Donald Trump’s administration is set to take action against any staff member who violates the flag ban.
Just days into his presidency, Trump has reportedly prohibited the display of Black Lives Matter and Pride flags.
He kicked off his time in office with quite a splash.
Trump has already signed 25 executive orders, addressing issues like the TikTok ban, immigration laws, and stating that there are ‘only two genders’ in the US.
Now, he’s focusing on two specific flags that symbolize parts of the American community.
The State Department has rolled out a ‘one flag policy,’ which means that US embassies and overseas missions can no longer display the Pride or BLM flags, as reported by The Washington Free Beacon.
Under this new rule, only three flags, aside from the US national flag, are allowed to be flown: the Prisoner of War flag, the Missing in Action flag, and the Hostage of Wrongful Detainee flag.
According to the Beacon, the order states: “Starting immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content.”
This directive was unanimously approved by the Senate on Monday, January 20, with a 99-0 vote.
Previously, flags like the Black Lives Matter flag were raised at official US locations, including the US Embassy and Consulate in Brazil, which displayed it in February 2022 for Black History Month. US embassies in Trinidad and Tobago also followed suit.
Pride flags have been displayed at the White House and the U.S. embassy in Moscow.
In June 2021, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau showcased the rainbow colors for the whole month, and in May 2023, the Latvian Embassy in Riga raised the flag to honor the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
This directive came from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated: “The U.S. flag is a powerful symbol of pride, and it is appropriate and respectful that only the U.S. flag be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both at home and overseas.”
Kevin Jennings, the CEO of Lambda Legal, expressed to Newsweek that the ban on Pride and other flags is “petty and mean-spirited.”
He added: “Flying these flags is just a way to show people they matter. It doesn’t hurt anyone. We have much bigger issues to tackle as a country, and this is just a small-minded distraction from those.”
According to The Beacon, any attempts to display the banned flags will be taken seriously.
Any State Department staff who violate the new policy will face consequences, which could include losing their job or being moved back to their original agency. However, it’s unclear if there are any additional penalties.
Social media is buzzing with reactions to this new directive, and the feedback isn’t positive.
One user commented: “This is a violation of human rights. The UN will take action.”
Another added: “Looks like the government is stifling free speech.”
