Trump Signs Order Against Burning the American Flag

• Trump signed an order that prohibits the burning of the flag.
• In Massachusetts, several flags were burned at a memorial for a veteran.
• Critics point to human rights violations in the new order.

On August 26, 2025, President of the USA Donald Trump signed an order that provides for severe penalties for those who burn the American flag. The order requires the U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi to ensure strict enforcement of the law, including a practice that protects flag burning as a form of free speech.

On the same day in the town of Yarmouth, Massachusetts, several American flags were burned on a bridge honoring fallen Marine William Donovan, who was killed in 2015. Police discovered that all the flags had been "intentionally removed" from the pole. This act of vandalism occurred on the same day that Trump announced the new order.

Trump emphasized that burning the flag is "uniquely offensive and provocative," which can lead to violence. He noted that those who teach such actions can be linked to criminal charges.

This order has sparked outrage both among Democrats and some conservatives. For example, conservative commentator Jesse Kelly expressed opposition to the order, stating that he wishes he could burn the flag, banned by the president only to provoke his audience.

Critics, including representatives of the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that Trump cannot amend the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution with his order. They assert that burning the flag is a form of self-expression, even if it may be offensive to some.

Initially, in 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court already ruled that flag burning is a protected form of expression under the First Amendment. This ruling leaves open the question of how the Trump administration can implement new rules without violating constitutional rights of citizens.

Tags: USA/Politics