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🇺🇸 Trump Bans Burning of American Flag
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Happy Tuesday, Patriots!
President Trump just signed an executive order on flag burning—and it’s already dividing even some conservatives.
The order directs prosecutions when the American flag is torched in violent or terroristic contexts. Trump says the flag is too sacred to be weaponized by mobs trying to incite chaos.
But not everyone on the Right agrees. Some MAGA voices argue the government has no business policing speech, even if it’s vile.
What everyone does agree on? Burning Old Glory is disgraceful—and Trump has once again put the debate over patriotism and free expression squarely on the national stage.
Get caught up on the latest Trump news below!
—Nick
In today’s email:
đź”” Trump Bans Burning of American Flag
đź’‰ Trump Plans COVID Vaccine Phase-Out
🏛️ Trump Fires Federal Reserve Governor
🎓 Trump Opens Door to Chinese Students
⚖️ Trump Threatens Lawsuit Over Senate Tradition
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President Trump stirred up Washington yesterday with his executive order targeting flag burning, drawing unexpected pushback from some conservatives who view it as a free speech issue. The controversy comes as Trump continues rebuilding diplomatic relationships, expressing interest in reconnecting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un following his White House meeting with South Korea's new president.
On the domestic front, tensions are escalating between the administration and Democratic mayors in Chicago and Baltimore, with Trump threatening federal intervention to address crime in both cities. It's shaping up to be another eventful stretch as the administration pushes forward with its agenda amid growing political battles on multiple fronts.
đź’‰ Trump Plans COVID Vaccine Phase-Out
The Trump administration is reportedly planning to phase out the COVID-19 vaccine according to Dr. Aseem Malhotra, one of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s closest associates. Malhotra, a British cardiologist, told reporters that while a decision to remove the COVID-19 vaccine from the market could come "within months," it could occur "in a number of stages" or "with one clean decision" given increased talk of vaccine injuries within the administration. The skepticism among Kennedy's circle regarding the COVID-19 vaccine stems from a 2022 peer-reviewed paper in the journal Vaccine that examined serious adverse events in clinical trials of Pfizer and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The paper found that those given the mRNA vaccines had a 16 percent higher risk of "excess serious adverse events" than those in the placebo group, according to secondary analysis of the clinical trial data. Kennedy previously announced that HHS would be "canceling mRNA vaccine development investments and contracts," with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority reviewing 22 mRNA vaccine development investments and beginning to cancel them.
🏛️ Trump Fires Federal Reserve Governor
President Trump fired Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud, stating in a letter that he had "sufficient cause" to remove her from her position. Cook, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden in 2022, was accused by Federal Housing Finance Agency head Bill Pulte of committing mortgage fraud by listing two primary residences, with Pulte including photographs of document signatures allegedly belonging to Cook that applied to both a Michigan residence and an Atlanta condo. Despite Trump's demands for her resignation, Cook refused to step down, stating she would not be "bullied" and that she intended to "take any questions about my financial history seriously" while gathering accurate information to provide facts. Trump wrote in his termination letter that Cook's alleged actions weaken Americans' trust in the Federal Reserve, emphasizing that "the American people must be able to have full confidence in the honesty of the members entrusted with setting policy and overseeing the Federal Reserve." The President concluded that due to Cook's "deceitful and potentially criminal conduct in a financial matter," he could not have confidence in her integrity.
🎓 Trump Opens Door to Chinese Students
President Trump announced that the United States will allow 600,000 Chinese students to study at American colleges, signaling a potential thaw in U.S.-China relations amid ongoing trade talks with Beijing. Trump told reporters that despite hearing "so many stories that we're not going to allow their students," his administration will welcome Chinese students because "it's very important" and "we're going to get along with China." The student visa offer comes against the backdrop of escalating trade tensions, with the administration having imposed a 145% tariff on all Chinese goods earlier this year, prompting Beijing to retaliate with a 125% tariff on U.S. exports. Trump's announcement represents a significant shift in tone from May when Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to "aggressively revoke" visas for Chinese nationals, particularly those tied to the Communist Party or sensitive research fields. Currently, about 270,000 Chinese students are enrolled in U.S. universities, making Trump's proposed increase more than doubling the current Chinese student population in American higher education.
⚖️ Trump Threatens Lawsuit Over Senate Tradition
President Trump threatened to file a lawsuit over the Senate's century-old "blue slip" tradition, which he says makes it "impossible" for him to appoint a judge or U.S. attorney. Trump explained that blue slips are a "gentlemen's agreement that's about 100 years old" where state senators give their approval for nominees for federal positions in their state, allowing a Democratic senator to stop a Republican president from making appointments. The blue slip practice is a long-standing Senate tradition but not a codified law, while constitutionally the president has the power to nominate and the Senate ultimately approves or rejects nominations. Trump's frustration with the tradition isn't new, as he previously called it a "hoax" and a "scam" used by Democrats to block his nominees, demanding that Senator Chuck Grassley stop supporting the practice. While Trump appointed 234 federal judges in his first term, including three Supreme Court justices and 54 appellate court judges, he has only confirmed five judges in the first seven months of his current term.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks next to U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Terry Cole, Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), during the signing of executive orders by U.S. President Trump in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday.
đź”” Trump Bans American Flag Burning đź””
President Trump signed an executive order instructing the Department of Justice to prosecute instances of American flag burning and desecration that could incite a riot. The order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate and prosecute instances of flag burning where prosecution wouldn't fall afoul of the First Amendment. Trump announced that the penalty for those convicted of flag burning will be a mandatory one-year sentence in federal prison with no early exits.
Trump emphasized that while the Supreme Court protected flag burning under the First Amendment in Texas v. Johnson, the Court has never ruled that burning the flag in a manner that can incite imminent lawless action or amounts to "fighting words" is constitutionally protected. The President argued that flag burning incites violence, stating that when flags are burned, "the area goes crazy" and "people go crazy in a way, both ways."
The executive order prioritizes enforcement of criminal and civil laws against flag desecration that violates content-neutral laws while causing harm unrelated to expression. The order specifically targets violent crimes, hate crimes, illegal discrimination against American citizens, violations of civil rights, and crimes against property and peace connected to flag desecration incidents.
The order also addresses immigration consequences, directing federal agencies to deny, prohibit, terminate, or revoke visas, residence permits, naturalization proceedings, and other immigration benefits for foreign nationals who engage in flag-desecration activity. The administration may also seek removal from the United States for such individuals under federal immigration law.
White House staff secretary Will Scharf noted that the Attorney General is tasked with pursuing litigation to clarify the scope of First Amendment exceptions in flag desecration cases. The order followed months of protesters burning American flags at various anti-Israel and anti-ICE demonstrations across the country.
Trump’s move drew rare criticism from conservatives who defended flag burning as a First Amendment right. Conservative commentators and radio hosts expressed concern that the order violated free speech principles, with some calling it "anti-free speech and peak snowflake behavior." Several prominent conservative voices argued that while they personally would never burn the flag, government restrictions on such expression run contrary to American values.
Other conservatives defended the order, noting that it includes qualifiers and does not constitute a blanket ban on flag burning. These supporters emphasized that the order specifically targets flag burning in "terroristic" contexts or when intended to incite violence, rather than all instances of flag desecration.
The White House responded to criticism by stating that President Trump will not allow the American Flag to be used as a tool to incite violence and riots while simultaneously protecting the First Amendment and implementing tough-on-crime policies. A spokesperson clarified that the order focuses on preventing violence and chaos rather than restricting all forms of expression.
Trump’s decision describes the American Flag as "the most sacred and cherished symbol of the United States" and argues that desecrating it is "uniquely offensive and provocative." Trump's administration contends that flag burning represents contempt, hostility, and violence against the nation and may be used by foreign nationals to intimidate Americans based on their nationality.
The executive order signals potential upcoming litigation challenging the 1989 Supreme Court ruling in Texas v. Johnson, as it directs the Attorney General to pursue cases that could clarify First Amendment protections regarding flag desecration. The administration maintains that certain forms of flag burning that incite imminent lawless action or constitute fighting words may not be constitutionally protected speech.
Historically, several Democratic lawmakers have supported measures against flag desecration, with representatives like Jim Clyburn, Marcy Kaptur, and others voting for constitutional amendments to prohibit flag desecration in both 1997 and 2005. The order represents Trump's latest effort to address what he views as disrespectful treatment of national symbols during periods of civil unrest and protest activity.
President Trump meets with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in the Oval Office of the White House on Monday.
🍟 Quick Bite News 🍟
🌏 Trump touted his "very good" relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and said the two would meet "someday," speaking to reporters just before a summit with South Korea's new president, Lee Jae Myung. Trump told reporters he knew Kim "better than anybody almost, other than his sister" and recalled feeling safe during their 2019 meeting at the Korean Demilitarized Zone despite seeing "more guns in that room than I've ever seen in my life." The President also criticized South Korea hours before Lee's scheduled arrival, posting on social media about reports of raids on churches and Osan Air Base, stating he wouldn't "stand for that."
⚖️ A federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked the Trump administration from immediately deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda after he was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. Judge Paula Xinis noted the contrast between Uganda's lack of stated protections for Abrego Garcia and Costa Rica's previous offer of assurances that he would live freely with residency papers or refugee status. The judge ordered that Abrego Garcia be kept at the same ICE detention center in Virginia and explicitly forbade the government from removing him from the continental United States.
🌉 President Trump threatened to revoke federal funding for Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction in his escalating feud with Maryland Governor Wes Moore over the city's crime rates. The new bridge is expected to cost approximately $1.9 billion, and without federal dollars, Maryland would struggle to cover that cost and construction timelines could slip past the current 2028 target completion. Trump posted on Truth Social that he "gave Wes Moore a lot of money to fix his demolished bridge" and would "now have to rethink that decision," while also suggesting he could deploy the National Guard to address Baltimore's crime problem.
🏛️ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said that if President Trump sent the National Guard to his city, "the people of this city are accustomed to rising up against tyranny" and would "stand firm alongside of me." Johnson criticized Trump's use of federal troops, arguing they "don't have police power" and "do not go through the training that our police officers go through," so they cannot enact police authority. The mayor also mocked Trump's efforts in Washington D.C., stating the president "spent hundreds of millions of dollars to what, arrest nine people in D.C.?"
🎖️ President Trump signed a proclamation commemorating the anniversary of the Abbey Gate attack during the Afghanistan withdrawal that killed 13 military service members, surrounded by Gold Star families at the White House. Trump stated that the attack "should've never happened, should have never been allowed to have happened" and also remembered the approximately 32 soldiers who were badly injured in the incident. Vice President JD Vance called the event a "rectification of a wrong," criticizing former President Joe Biden for never acknowledging the loss or putting "pen to paper to say we're grateful for your sacrifice."
🎥Trending Politics Video Of The Day🎥 - Trump Slams Illinois Gov Pritzker & Signs Order Criminalizing Flag Burning
God bless,
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