When Flag Burning Is NOT Free Speech

[gatomontes99]

Everyone is going apeshit over this EO: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/08/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-protects-the-american-flag-from-desecration/

The main argument is that flag burning is free speech. That is true. Like every other right, there are limits. You can't wrap a person in a flag, douse them in gas and light in on fire and still call it free speech. That is the point of the EO. 

Quote

    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.
    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.

The EO does not change the law, the constitution or anything else. What it does do, is direct AGs to enforce the laws, even if the flag is involved. Using the flag does not create an immunity from prosecution for other crimes. So if they burn it during a burn ban, an illegal protest or any other illegal activity, they will be prosecuted for that crime. The act of burning the flag is not the catalyst for prosecution, it just isn't the immunity. 

[Nationalist]

Yes @gatomontes99, you've identified the purpose of the EO. But...the EO is toothless. I think burning one's flag denotes a hatred of one's nation. Thus it stands to reason that such people doing this, should be given the humane choice.

To sooth such hatred of America, the perpetrator should be given the opportunity to migrate to another country...if accepted by said country...or provided a room secluded from the nation and society they hate so much.

There...everyone is safe and at least a little more satisfied.

[Deluge]

1 hour ago, gatomontes99 said:

Everyone is going apeshit over this EO: https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/08/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-protects-the-american-flag-from-desecration/

The main argument is that flag burning is free speech. That is true. Like every other right, there are limits. You can't wrap a person in a flag, douse them in gas and light in on fire and still call it free speech. That is the point of the EO. 

The EO does not change the law, the constitution or anything else. What it does do, is direct AGs to enforce the laws, even if the flag is involved. Using the flag does not create an immunity from prosecution for other crimes. So if they burn it during a burn ban, an illegal protest or any other illegal activity, they will be prosecuted for that crime. The act of burning the flag is not the catalyst for prosecution, it just isn't the immunity. 

I just think it's bad all around. Sure everyone has the right to burn the flag, but it just shows what a piece of shit that person is. 

[TreeBeard]

It’s always free speech. The courts have already determined this.   Can the president overrule the US Supreme Court?  (that’s a rhetorical question….  they can’t)

 

In a landmark 1989 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag in protest is protected speech under the First Amendment. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/25/trump-flag-burning-first-amendment/85814151007/

 

[Deluge]

11 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:

It’s always free speech. The courts have already determined this.   Can the president overrule the US Supreme Court?  (that’s a rhetorical question….  they can’t)

 

 

In a landmark 1989 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag in protest is protected speech under the First Amendment. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/25/trump-flag-burning-first-amendment/85814151007/

 

Now go burn a flag, MoonBeard. You have that right! 

[Legato]

15 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:

It’s always free speech. The courts have already determined this.   Can the president overrule the US Supreme Court?  (that’s a rhetorical question….  they can’t)

 

 

In a landmark 1989 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag in protest is protected speech under the First Amendment. 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/08/25/trump-flag-burning-first-amendment/85814151007/

 

Yes it is, however I will formulate the question "are you in favour of flag burning"?

[gatomontes99]

24 minutes ago, TreeBeard said:

It’s always free speech. The courts have already determined this.

Really? So if I burn it on someone's car and the car catches fire, im immune because it is free speech? 

[robosmith]

45 minutes ago, Legato said:

Yes it is, however I will formulate the question "are you in favour of flag burning"?

I will formulate the question "are you in favor of the evil acts by government which prompt flag burning"?

Like invading Iraq under the premise of false allegations of WMD possession. 🤮

Or sending the armed National Guard to the National Mall under the premise of high crime rates in remote corners of the city.

[Legato]

1 hour ago, robosmith said:

I will formulate the question "are you in favor of the evil acts by government which prompt flag burning"?

Like invading Iraq under the premise of false allegations of WMD possession. 🤮

Or sending the armed National Guard to the National Mall under the premise of high crime rates in remote corners of the city.

If you read the bottom of your beercan it say's....open other end.

Buy bottles instead and keep the caps you always need them.

Don't buy you beer from remote corners of the city.

 

[Deluge]

2 hours ago, gatomontes99 said:

Really? So if I burn it on someone's car and the car catches fire, im immune because it is free speech? 

TreeBeard doesn't know what he means. He just wants the right to destroy stuff. 

1 hour ago, robosmith said:

I will formulate the question "are you in favor of the evil acts by government which prompt flag burning"?

Like invading Iraq under the premise of false allegations of WMD possession. 🤮

Or sending the armed National Guard to the National Mall under the premise of high crime rates in remote corners of the city.

Translation: Yes, robocrat is deeply in favor of destroying the US flag. It symbolizes everything he stands for. 

[robosmith]

18 minutes ago, Legato said:

If you read the bottom of your beercan it say's....open other end.

Buy bottles instead and keep the caps you always need them.

Don't buy you beer from remote corners of the city.

 

^Pure DRIVEL.

[Legato]

18 minutes ago, robosmith said:

^Pure DRIVEL.

Payment in kind.

[Nationalist]

I imagine our sopping wet Libbie @robosmith is filled with enough hatred for America to burn the American flag.

Hey robo. Want a free airline ticket to a country you do like?

Germany perhaps? Ukraine?

Im sure you'd be much happier. 

[herbie]

Once again we see the Trumpalos defend total disregard for the law and the Constitution.

[Legato]

2 minutes ago, Nationalist said:

I imagine our sopping wet Libbie @robosmith is filled with enough hatred for America to burn the American flag.

Hey robo. Want a free airline ticket to a country you do like?

Germany perhaps? Ukraine?

Im sure you'd be much happier. 

He went to Wakanda but Thanos had confiscated all the caps.

[robosmith]

34 minutes ago, Legato said:

Payment in kind.

Nope. Drivel is never payment in kind for WISDOM.

15 minutes ago, Nationalist said:

I imagine our sopping wet Libbie @robosmith is filled with enough hatred for America to burn the American flag.

Hey robo. Want a free airline ticket to a country you do like?

Germany perhaps? Ukraine?

Im sure you'd be much happier. 

You're "sure" of a lot of things of which you are COMPLETELY IGNORANT, dropout.

[robosmith]

12 minutes ago, herbie said:

Once again we see the Trumpalos defend total disregard for the law and the Constitution.

Trump is a master baiter for things he believes he can get away with.

He knows that the LAW can be BOUGHT cause he's done it all his life. 🤮

Like when he bought Blondie cheap for a $25K campaign contribution when she was running for re-election as FL AG

[Legato]

6 minutes ago, robosmith said:

Nope. Drivel is never payment in kind for WISDOM.

 

Why bring up information about those teeth you lost to the tooth fairy.

[robosmith]

14 minutes ago, Legato said:

Why bring up information about those teeth you lost to the tooth fairy.

Just to see the clown draw really STUPID conclusions with DRIVEL.

[Shady]

4 hours ago, TreeBeard said:

It’s always free speech.

Cool.  Can I burn a pride flag too?

[TreeBeard]

49 minutes ago, Shady said:

Cool.  Can I burn a pride flag too?

Are you in Canada, or USA?   You know our laws are different, don’t you?  

[gatomontes99]

2 hours ago, herbie said:

Once again we see the Trumpalos defend total disregard for the law and the Constitution.

Did you even read the EO? 

[herbie]

Burn a Pride flag? Sure if your concerns are so f*cking petty that seems important to you.

[gatomontes99]

Just now, herbie said:

Burn a Pride flag? Sure if your concerns are so f*cking petty that seems important to you.

Did you read the EO?

[herbie]

Yes, Did you? Probably, but as usual had zero understanding of what it meant and just accepted the propaganda again.