Trump Signs Executive Order Targeting Flag Burning, Challenging 1989 Supreme Court Ruling

President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning the burning of the American flag, imposing penalties of up to one year in jail and directing the Justice Department to prosecute cases, including pursuing visa revocations for foreign nationals involved. This move challenges the 1989 Supreme Court ruling in Texas v. Johnson, which protected flag burning as a form of free speech, a decision supported by then-Justice Antonin Scalia, who emphasized the First Amendment's protection even for expression critical of the government. While civil liberties advocates and constitutional scholars warn that Trump's order threatens constitutional rights, some conservative figures, including Vice President JD Vance, have endorsed efforts to overturn the landmark ruling, arguing it was wrongly decided. The order instructs the Attorney General to prioritize enforcement and seek cases to challenge the precedent, with critics highlighting the potential for mass deportations linked to flag-burning charges. The debate reflects longstanding tensions over free speech and patriotic symbolism, with public opinion polls showing a majority of Americans oppose flag burning despite constitutional protections. Trump's executive order marks a significant escalation in efforts to restrict this form of political expression, drawing sharp criticism from free speech advocates and legal experts.