Trump Revives Push to Penalize Flag Burning, citing Incitement and National Pride
WASHINGTON - Former president Donald Trump is onc again advocating for penalties for those who burn the American flag, reiterating his call for a one-year jail sentence during a recent visit to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on June 10th. This renewed effort comes as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, a period Trump has framed as a time for celebrating American heritage.
Trump initially raised the issue while speaking at Fort Bragg as part of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary celebrations, and following sometimes violent protests in Los Angeles against immigration enforcement. “People that burn the American flag should go to jail for one year, that’s what they should be doing, one year,” he stated, according to a transcript from Rev.com.
This isn’t the frist time Trump has publicly championed such a measure. he previously called for a one-year penalty for flag burning during a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June 2020, amidst his presidential campaign. He was photographed embracing an American flag at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on March 2, 2019 (photo credit: Yuri Gripas, Reuters).
While a formal executive order addressing the issue was previously considered, the legal path remains complex. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that flag burning is a form of protected speech under the First amendment. Landmark cases, such as Texas v. Johnson (1989) and United States v. Eichman (1990), established this precedent, finding that flag desecration is expressive conduct and therefore falls under constitutional protection.
However,Attorney General Pam Bondi previously suggested in 2019 that prosecution might be possible without violating the First Amendment,focusing on the “fighting words” doctrine – the idea that speech inciting imminent lawless action is not protected. Trump’s argument centers on this interpretation of Supreme Court decisions, claiming that flag burning incites riots. “What happens when you burn the flag, the area goes crazy,” Trump said. “When you burn the American flag, it incites riots.”
Flag burning has a long history as a form of political protest in the United States, dating back to the Civil Rights movement and the Vietnam War era. Its often employed as a symbolic act of dissent against government policies. Instances of flag burning have occurred near the White House, including a scuffle that broke out on independence Day in 2019.
The debate over flag burning touches upon fundamental questions about the limits of free speech and the balance between protecting individual expression and upholding national symbols. The Supreme Court’s consistent defense of flag burning as protected speech has consistently frustrated those who view the act as disrespectful and unpatriotic, leading to ongoing calls for legislative or constitutional changes to allow for penalties.
