US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing the US attorney general to prosecute those who burn or in any way desecrate the American flag, leading to criticism by free speech advocates.
"If you burn a flag, you get one year in jail, no early exits, no nothing," Trump said as he signed the order in the Oval Office, Reuters reported.
The order instructed the attorney general to "vigorously prosecute" people who violate flag desecration laws and to pursue litigation to clarify the scope of the First Amendment regarding the issue.
The US Constitution's First Amendment protects individuals' free speech rights. The US Supreme Court held in 1989 that burning or otherwise destroying the nation's flag was protected as a free speech right.
"You don't have to like flag burning. You can condemn it, debate it, or hoist your own flag even higher. The beauty of free speech is that you get to express your opinions, even if others don't like what you have to say," the free speech group Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said in a statement condemning Trump's order, Reuters reported.
The order signed by Trump also directs the attorney general to refer flag desecration cases to state or local authorities, and instructs the administration to prohibit and terminate visas, residence permits, and naturalization proceedings for those who desecrate the flag.
'They call me President of Europe'
While speaking to the reporters shortly after signing the executive order, Trump quipped, “They jokingly call me the president of Europe. Which is an honour. I like Europe. And I like those people. They’re good people. They’re great leaders."
His comments came after a recent high-level meeting in Washington, where Trump hosted seven European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
He added, “We’ve never had a case where seven plus really 28, essentially 35, 38 countries were represented here the other day – 38 European and other countries were represented."
The aim of the talks was to urge Trump to continue supporting Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia. The meeting also came shortly after Trump held a private discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska—his first face-to-face meeting with Putin since 2019.
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