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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
Tuesday, August 26, 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Aug. 25 seeking to penalize people who burn flags, although courts have long upheld the practice as legitimate expression under the First Amendment.

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"If you burn a flag, you get one year in jail," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, although the order doesn't specify a jail sentence. "You will see flag burning stop immediately."

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"The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful protest. The Supreme Court in 1989 ruled in a 5-4 decision that burning a flag itself is a form of political expression and isn't illegal.

Bob Corn-Revere, the chief counsel of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said "flag burning as a form of political protest is protected by the First Amendment" even if Trump finds it "uniquely offensive and provocative."

"President Trump may believe he has the power to revise the First Amendment with the stroke of a pen, but he doesn't," Corn-Revere said."

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So... if Mrs. Major Boaz burns his underwear, she's going to prison?

That's just not right!

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2025-08-25 05:08 PM | Reply

"American Flag desecration conducted in a manner that is likely to incite imminent lawless action"

Like Alito flying the flag upside down?

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-25 05:12 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Also signed today, an Order establishing training Nat Guard units as Brownshirts to deploy against civilians.

www.cnn.com

#3 | Posted by Corky at 2025-08-25 05:13 PM | Reply

#3 They will be "specifically trained and equipped to deal with public order issues"

What are public order issues, is that when the people are out in public and peacefully protesting?

#4 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-25 05:14 PM | Reply

" President Donald Trump signed an executive order Aug. 25 seeking to penalize people who burn flags, although courts have long upheld the practice as legitimate expression under the First Amendment.

This is the propaganda for those that can't read and think for themselves. The EO doesn't say you can't burn the flag at all.

If you want to burn the flag feel free, go to backyard film yourself and burn it.

So what is the EO? It makes burning a US flag "in a manner that is likely to incite imminent lawless action or that is an action amounting to "fighting words".", illegal.

You poor people, you can't read, snoofy can't understand, and you're going to go out and burn flags in an obvious troll.

I am here to protect you, but you're to stupid to understand.


What are public order issues, is that when the people are out in public and peacefully protesting?
#4 | POSTED BY SNOOFY A

No snoofy, your grasp of issues is sorry to say the least. Its to deal with the supposed "crime that doesn't exist" that is seeping into areas where there is no national guard presence.

For instance now the crime has shifted to Prince George's County. As I have previously stated its whack-a-mole.

#5 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-25 05:30 PM | Reply

The Visa kid is teaching us English comprehension now, rofl!

We read and understood the article, #2 Son... and you make a much better Reverse Barometer than you do an interpreter.

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2025-08-25 05:39 PM | Reply

First Amendment gives the right to burn the flag. I personally think it's stupid to do that, but it shouldn't be illegal and isn't.

Trump is a fascist.

#7 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-08-25 05:43 PM | Reply

" First Amendment gives the right to burn the flag. I personally think it's stupid to do that, but it shouldn't be illegal and isn't."

100%

#8 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-08-25 06:14 PM | Reply

"Uh, hello, is the FBI?"

"Yes, Ma'am. What is the national security issue you want the FBI to investigate?"

"There's some Mexican Muslims and Boy Scouts and Canadian migrants and maybe even Democrats gathered around in the park burning the American flag!"

https://media.defense.gov/2020/Jun/03/2002310029/-1/-1/0/170615-F-RA202-047M.JPG

#9 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-25 06:18 PM | Reply

I feel like this is intended to be met with millions of liberals burning the flag, at which point Trump and his minions to start The Purge.

Trump just need to announce he will pardon anyone who shoots a flag-burning liberal.

In other words, this is purposefully being done "in a manner that is likely to incite imminent lawless action."

At least, that's the hope.

And the difference between us and them is we will call that out, and they will play dumb about it even though they know it's true.

They are the Know-Nothings of our time. And unfortunately for our time, they won the election.

#10 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-25 06:20 PM | Reply

The ------------ cop killers who attacked DC on J6 replaced the American flag with the-------------'s flag.

people.com

#11 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-08-25 06:36 PM | Reply

I don't think people should be locked up for wearing the flag around and farting on it all day, but I do think it's trashy.

#12 | Posted by horstngraben at 2025-08-25 06:40 PM | Reply

Somebody is about to get paid.

#13 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-08-25 08:20 PM | Reply

The Bulwark
@thebulwark.com

BREAKING: Veteran arrested outside White House for burning American flag

#14 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-08-25 08:26 PM | Reply

BREAKING: Veteran arrested outside White House for burning American flag
#14 | Posted by reinheitsgebot

"Believe it or not, jail."

#15 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-25 08:50 PM | Reply

Just the beginning.

#16 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-08-25 09:34 PM | Reply

Lewzer quotes:

"Why Is @BarackObama constantly issuing executive orders that are major power grabs of authority?"

"The country wasn't based on executive orders,"

"Right now, Obama goes around signing executive orders. He can't even get along with the Democrats, and he goes around signing all these executive orders. It's a basic disaster. You can't do it."

For those keeping score, he's closing in on 200 since January 20th.

#17 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-25 09:44 PM | Reply

SCOTUS already ruled on this one and they said that it was a violation of the first amendment to ban the burning of the American flag. This will go nowhere fast.

#18 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-08-25 10:05 PM | Reply

SCOTUS already ruled on this one and they said that it was a violation of the first amendment to ban the burning of the American flag.

They can just change their mind. You know, like that Roe thing.

#19 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-25 10:26 PM | Reply

"SCOTUS already ruled on this one and they said that it was a violation of the first amendment to ban the burning of the American flag. This will go nowhere fast.

#18 | Posted by LauraMohr"

100%

#20 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-08-25 10:41 PM | Reply


"SCOTUS already ruled on this one and they said that it was a violation of the first amendment to ban the burning of the American flag. This will go nowhere fast.
#18 | Posted by LauraMohr"

Burning the flag is still legal under the EO.

The EO is about how you are using the flag burning, are you trying to incite the crowd?

This does bring up another question, why is some flag burning illegal and others not? Why isn't all flag burning a first amendment right?

for instance:

Fifteen years in Iowa jail for burning pride flag
www.bbc.com

#21 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-26 12:22 AM | Reply


We read and understood the article, #2 Son... and you make a much better Reverse Barometer than you do an interpreter.
#6 | POSTED BY CORKY

Read the EO, don't read some propaganda meant to stir up your emotions.

Look at all the idiots here. All riled up about nothing absolutely nothing the EO says.

Burning the flag is a predicate to a crime.

From the EO:

Notwithstanding the Supreme Court's rulings on First Amendment protections, the Court has never held that American Flag desecration conducted in a manner that is likely to incite imminent lawless action or that is an action amounting to "fighting words" is constitutionally protected. See Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 408-10 (1989).

My Administration will act to restore respect and sanctity to the American Flag and prosecute those who incite violence or otherwise violate our laws while desecrating this symbol of our country, to the fullest extent permissible under any available authority.
www.whitehouse.gov

#22 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-26 12:28 AM | Reply

Yeah, the trump administration is so trustworthy. They wouldn't arrest someone JUST for burning a flag.

The same way they wouldn't send troops to LA, DC, Chicago, and Maryland on a pointless power grabbing whim.

#23 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-08-26 12:34 AM | Reply

You're hopeless, Oneironut.

#24 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-08-26 12:34 AM | Reply

Fifteen years in Iowa jail for burning pride flag

Among other things:

He was found guilty last month of hate crime harassment, reckless use of fire and being a habitual offender. The incident occurred around midnight on 11 June in downtown Ames, Iowa. Police say the crime spree began at Dangerous Curves, a strip club, when police were called because a man was making threats. By the time they arrived, he had already been kicked out by bar staff. After leaving the club, Martinez then travelled to the church and ripped down its flag. He then returned to the strip club where he used lighter fluid to burn the flag in the street. He also threatened to burn down the bar. He was arrested later that day, and told local media in a jail house interview that he was "guilty as charged". "It was an honour to do that. It's a blessing from the Lord," he said, explaining that he did it because he "opposed homosexuality". "I burned down their pride, plain and simple," he told KCCI-TV. The interview was entered into the trial as evidence against him.
So, not just burning a flag.

#25 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-26 12:35 AM | Reply

"They wouldn't arrest someone JUST for burning a flag."

Again. 100% 1A is not only the law of the land but it's absolutely awesome on principle. And I say that as someone who absolutely loathes flag-burning.

#26 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-08-26 12:42 AM | Reply

They wouldn't arrest someone JUST for burning a flag

But, now they can, should they want to.

MAGA burning a flag to protest democrats? No problem. It's patriotic!

Students burning a flag while protesting? Problem! Arrest them all.

#27 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-26 12:46 AM | Reply

They wouldn't arrest someone JUST for burning a flag.

They can't. I think burning is the proper way to dispose of a worn out flag. I assume there is some kind of pagan jingoistic ritual that goes with it.

#28 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-26 12:53 AM | Reply

They'll try. Watch.

#29 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-08-26 01:04 AM | Reply

" Fifteen years in Iowa jail for burning pride flag"

Leave it to a Slurper to skip over the salient parts.

Got Intellectual Dishonesty?

#30 | Posted by Danforth at 2025-08-26 01:09 AM | Reply

Leave it to a Slurper

I saw what you did there... :-)

#31 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-08-26 01:23 AM | Reply

His freedom has been curtailed. He has jurisdiction to file whatever he wants to.

#32 | Posted by fresno500 at 2025-08-26 09:38 AM | Reply

#5 | Posted by oneironaut/i>

As usual, this stupid piece of s*&^ swoops in to give us some inane, attempted condescension dripping moronic explanation.

Guess what dumbf(*&, given their constant claims of "lawlessness" that stupid pieces of s(*& like you lap up as fast as you can, this order is all they'll claim to need to lock up anyone who burns a flag.

Here's a question for you you stupid pile of s(*&, since when do EOs have the power of law to dole out length of jail times?

#33 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-26 10:23 AM | Reply

#34 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-26 10:24 AM | Reply

SCOTUS already ruled on this one and they said that it was a violation of the first amendment to ban the burning of the American flag. This will go nowhere fast.

#18 | Posted by LauraMohr

You haven't been paying attention, have you?

#35 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-26 10:25 AM | Reply

since when do EOs have the power of law to dole out length of jail times?

Just more virtue signaling from stinky.

RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES.

Flag burning is protected speech under the 1st amendment.

Stinky is just wasting more taxpayer funds in order to get some good feels from his dummies while he tramples the constitution.

#36 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-08-26 10:36 AM | Reply

burning a flag itself is a form of political expression and isn't illegal

Nothing says liberty like jailtime.

#37 | Posted by lee_the_agent at 2025-08-26 11:29 AM | Reply

And I say that as someone who absolutely loathes flag-burning.

#26 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

Right. Flag burning is despicable!

BTW- How do you properly dispose of your old flags?

Or do you even bother to fly one or do you just hug them and hide behind them?

#38 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-26 12:08 PM | Reply

Can I burn a Thin Blue Line flag?

#39 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-26 09:04 PM | Reply

@#38 ... How do you properly dispose of your old flags? ...

Good question. here's what I found ...

How to Properly Dispose of Worn-Out U.S. Flags
www.defense.gov

... Flag Retirement Ceremonies

Many state and county government offices and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts have flag disposal boxes outside of their buildings. Police stations also collect them. Once the disposal boxes are full, various organizations such as American Legions, VFWs and the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts collect the flags and hold flag retirement ceremonies.

A large bin sits beside a column in a lobby.

Rules on how to properly fly the flag were established in June 1923, when the National Flag Conference met in Washington. Its members created the Flag Code, which states that "the flag represents a living country and is itself considered a living thing."

The American Legion passed a resolution about flag retirement ceremonies in 1937, and they've been an important ritual ever since. According to the resolution, "The approved method of disposing of unserviceable flags has long been that they be destroyed by burning." ...


#40 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-26 09:15 PM | Reply

@40

So, now Pres Trump apparently wants to go after the American Legion and place them in jail for a year?

#41 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-26 09:16 PM | Reply

"no one died for this flag, they died for your right to fucking burn it" -Bill Hicks

#42 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-26 10:02 PM | Reply

Notwithstanding the Supreme Court's rulings on First Amendment protections, the Court has never held that American Flag desecration conducted in a manner that is likely to incite imminent lawless action or that is an action amounting to "fighting words" is constitutionally protected. See Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397, 408-10 (1989).

How to say I don't understand prohibited content/view point regulations without using those words.

Prosecutions Under New "Prosecuting Burning of the American Flag" Executive Order Would Violate First Amendment

And this is so even though the order targets flag desecration that could be punished under more neutral rules.
Trump's Flag-Burning Executive Order
What does the executive order actually do?

#43 | Posted by et_al at 2025-08-26 11:15 PM | Reply

@#43 ... What does the executive order actually do? ...

From the link you cite (thank-you for that, btw)

...Yesterday President Donald Trump signed a new executive order on the "burning of the American flag." As usual, the president decided to freelance a bit while signing the executive order in front of the cameras and declared that "you burn a flag, you get one year in jail." Now that would be an interesting executive order! But fortunately, the order he signed does not actually say that. In fact, it is so hemmed in by legal qualifications that it does not do much of anything at all. Other than, of course, provide the president with the opportunity to hold a press conference and excite his fans with some patriotic bluster.

What does the executive order actually do? ...


So, it seems to be another optics-tactic. Something good for the cameras?



#44 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-26 11:41 PM | Reply

This is a stunt on Trump's part to provoke people into burning the flag so he can call liberals anti-American while showing videos of burning flags.
If you feel compelled to burn a flag for some reason then go ahead and do it but don't have that reason be due to Trump lying about what am executive order says. You're just giving him ammo

#45 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-08-27 02:18 AM | Reply

@#45 ... This is a stunt on Trump's part to provoke people into burning the flag so he can call liberals anti-American while showing videos of burning flags. ...

I agree.

It seems to be more about the optics than the occurrence.

#46 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-27 02:23 AM | Reply

Stranglers - Skin Deep (1984)
www.youtube.com

Lyrics excerpt ...

genius.com

...
Many people tell you that they're your friend
You believe them, you need them for what's round the river bend
Make sure that you're receiving the signals they send
'Cos brother, you've only got two hands to lend

Maybe there's someone who makes you weep
And some nights loom up ahead when you're asleep
Some days there's things on your mind you should keep
Sometimes, it's tougher to look than to leap

Better watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep
(Better watch out) Watch out for the skin deep
(Better watch out) Watch out for the skin deep
Better watch out for the skin deep

One day the track that you're climbing gets steep
...


#47 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-27 02:27 AM | Reply

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