In yet another good sign that he’s not backing down and will be dealing with the far-left rioters who are causing so much damage and disorder, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to remind Border Patrol and ICE that, when they’re dealing with rioters who are burning flags, those rioters are to be immediately arrested and face one year prison sentences.
As a reminder, President Trump issued an executive order in late August in which he directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to start harshly prosecuting flag burners, both under the auspices of its own power and by referring the cases to state authorities when necessary. The president argued that flag burning is an attempt to intimidate patriotic Americans, and so won’t be tolerated by his administration.
Describing the need for the Executive Order in a press release, he said, “The American flag is the most sacred and cherished symbol of the United States of America, and desecrating it is uniquely and inherently offensive and provocative. It is a statement of contempt and hostility toward our Nation, and an act used by groups of foreign nationals calculated to intimidate and threaten violence against Americans.”
And, describing what the order will make happen on the ground, the press release noted, “The Order directs the Attorney General to vigorously prosecute those who violate our laws in ways that involve desecrating the flag, and to pursue litigation to clarify the scope of First Amendment in this area. It also instructs the Attorney General to refer flag desecration cases that violate state or local laws to appropriate state or local authorities.”
Further, the press release added that this can be used to go after foreign nationals, saying, “Finally, the order directs the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security and the Attorney General to deny, prohibit, terminate, or revoke visas, residence permits, or naturalization proceedings, and other immigration benefits, or seek removal from the United States, wherever there has been an appropriate determination that flag desecration by foreign nationals permits the exercise of those remedies under applicable law.”
Taking to his Truth Social social media platform, the president reminded federal agents of that executive order and warned those protesters who plan on burning American flags that, if they do so, they will face both immediate arrest and a year in prison for their horrid offense.
He said, on that point, “To ICE, Border Patrol, Law Enforcement, and all U.S. Military: As per my August 25, 2025 Executive Order, please be advised that, from this point forward, anybody burning the American Flag will be subject to one year in prison. You will be immediately arrested. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
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Defending the move in a statement to Fox News Digital, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, “President Trump will not allow the American Flag, a special symbol of our country’s greatness, to be used as a tool to incite violence and riots that jeopardize the safety of everyday Americans.” She continued, “President Trump will always protect the First Amendment, while simultaneously implementing commonsense, tough-on-crime policies to prevent violence and chaos.”
Watch anti-ICE protesters burn a flag in Portland, Oregon, until being stopped by conservative influencer Nick Sortor:
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video