Trump abruptly nixes signing of executive order to punish American flag burners sparking White House confusion
President Donald Trump is apparently torn over whether to ignite a tinderbox over a plan to throw the book at American flag burners.
Trump abruptly cancelled the signing of an executive order on Thursday seeking to punish Americans for burning the U.S. flag.
According to multiple reports, Trump planned to sign an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to bring charges against individuals who burn the stars and stripes.
In 1989, the Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag during a protest is a protected form of free speech.
Under Trump’s order that's now on hold, the DOJ would review already existing cases of flag burning to see if other charges unrelated to the flag burning could be brought forward.
For example, the order reportedly directed the DOJ to prosecute protesters for crimes such as public nuisance or disorderly conduct laws, according to a report from NewsNation.
It is not clear if Trump plans to sign the executive order at a later date, or if it’s being cancelled permanently.
The Daily Mail reached out to the White House for comment.
Trump has advocated for throwing protesters in jail for up to one year for burning the U.S. flag
Trump referred to protesters who burn the flag as 'animals'
Trump cancelled a plan signing of an executive order that punishes Americans for burning the flag
Since the start of his career in politics, Trump has advocated for imposing legal penalties on protesters who destroy the American flag despite the Supreme Court’s prior ruling.
In the past, the president has called for stripping the citizenship from naturalized American citizens who burn the flag and advocated for jail time as a punishment.
Trump during the 2024 campaign season even floated the idea of introducing a constitutional amendment to ban flag burning as a form of protected protest.
Amid the anti-ICE protests in LA, Trump called for throwing demonstrators in jail for a year for setting the flag on fire.
‘These are animals, but they proudly carry the flags of other countries. They don't carry the American flag,’ Trump told a crowd of servicemembers at Fort Bragg.
‘They only burn it. Did you see a lot of the flags being burned?"
He added, ‘They weren't being burned by people from our country, or from people that love our country. People that burn the American flag should go to jail for one year.’
It is not clear if Trump plans to sign the executive order at a later date
Trump then claimed that he’s working with lawmakers in DC to push through legislation outlawing flag burning.
‘We'll see if we can get that done. We're going to try and get that done. We're working with some of your senators.’
