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The president Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order this Monday aimed at tightening sanctions against those who burn or desecrate the flag of the United States, a gesture that has been repeated in various protests across the country in recent months.
The initiative, exclusively revealed by Fox News Digital, aims to provide a strong response to what Trump describes as a direct attack on patriotism and national values.
The measure comes after several recent incidents in which protesters burned American flags during demonstrations against Israel and against ICE raids.
According to the information provided to the media, the order emphasizes that the flag is "the most sacred and precious symbol of the United States" and that its desecration constitutes "a statement of contempt and hostility towards our nation, used by foreign groups to intimidate and threaten Americans with violence."
Among the most relevant provisions, the order will instruct Attorney General Pam Bondi to take legal action against those who commit acts of desecration in violation of state or federal laws, in addition to initiating litigation aimed at clarifying the boundaries of the First Amendment in relation to such acts.
At the same time, Bondi must refer cases that fall under local jurisdiction to the appropriate authorities to ensure that those responsible face legal consequences.
The text also incorporates an immigration component: it directs the attorney general and the secretary of Homeland Security to review and, if necessary, revoke visas, permits, and immigration benefits for foreigners found guilty of burning or damaging the American flag.
According to the Trump administration, this measure aims to prevent individuals hostile to the country from retaining legal benefits on its territory.
The examples that prompted this executive action are numerous.
In Chicago, during the Democratic National Convention in August 2024, groups of anti-Israel protesters set several flags on fire in front of television cameras.
Similar incidents occurred in Washington D.C. in July, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing Congress amid the ongoing Middle Eastern war, and in Washington Square Park in New York during the Fourth of July celebrations.
In June, in Los Angeles, anti-ICE protesters not only waved Mexican flags in a demonstration against immigration raids but also burned several "Old Glory" flags while one of them, through a megaphone, called to "bring down the empire once and for all."
The symbolism of the flag has been a recurring theme in American politics in recent years.
Since 2016, following the gesture of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem in protest against police brutality, the debate regarding the flag and its relation to freedom of expression has intensified.
Tension reached its peak in 2020, when dozens of professional athletes took the same stance in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd.
Trump, who has made patriotism one of the cornerstones of his rhetoric, had already advocated for symbolic measures in that direction.
Last June, he ordered the raising of two 88-foot-tall American flags on either side of the White House, a project he personally financed and which, according to his spokesperson Davis Ingle, represents "just one of the many selfless gestures by the president to make the White House a more patriotic and beautiful place."
Likewise, he had previously decreed that no U.S. embassy in the world could display flags other than the national flag.
With the new executive order, Trump aims to reinforce that message and project an image of strength in the face of what he describes as symbolic attacks on the nation.
For its critics, the initiative will reignite the debate about the limits of freedom of expression in the United States, while for its supporters, it is a necessary action to "protect what it means to be American."
Frequently Asked Questions about Trump’s Measures Against Flag Burning
What measures has Trump announced against flag burning?
Donald Trump signed an executive order to tighten sanctions against those who burn or desecrate the United States flag. This measure comes in response to recent incidents during protests where American flags have been burned. The order aims to prosecute those responsible and review immigration benefits for foreigners involved in these acts.
How does this executive order affect immigrants?
The order could lead to the revocation of visas, permits, and other immigration benefits for foreigners who harm the American flag. The goal is to prevent individuals hostile to the nation from retaining legal benefits in the country. This is part of a broader series of measures by the Trump administration to strengthen immigration policies.
What is the relationship between this measure and freedom of expression in the U.S.?
The executive order could rekindle the debate over the limits of the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech in the U.S. Some critics argue that these measures could be seen as a restriction on free speech, by penalizing actions that could be considered as such. However, the administration defends the measure as a protection of patriotism and national values.
What other steps has Trump taken in his immigration policy?
Trump has implemented several restrictive measures in immigration policy, such as massive raids and control of sanctuary jurisdictions. These policies include the confiscation of assets from undocumented immigrants who do not self-deport and restrictions on birthright citizenship. All these actions are part of a tougher approach by the administration towards immigration.
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