Trump Admits To Taking Away Freedom Of Speech With Flag Burning Ban | Watch

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday claimed that his administration “took the freedom of speech away” when it comes to burning the American flag, an act that the US Supreme Court has long recognized as protected under the First Amendment.During a roundtable discussion on antifa, Trump said flag burnings often provoke chaos and violence. “We took the freedom of speech away, because that’s been through the courts, and the courts said you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is when they burn the flag it agitates and irritates crowds,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it, on both sides, and you end up with riots,” he said.Trump made the remarks after referencing conservative influencer Nick Sortor, who he said was attacked while trying to stop a flag burning at a protest. He also cited his August 25 executive order, which directed federal authorities to prosecute those involved in flag burnings. The order described the American flag as “our most sacred and cherished symbol” and said its desecration is “uniquely offensive and provocative.”The Supreme Court first ruled that flag burning is protected symbolic speech in the 1989 Texas v. Johnson case, when activist Gregory Lee Johnson burned the flag to protest then-President Ronald Reagan’s policies. The court said the First Amendment covers not only spoken or written words but also expressive acts, including flag burning.Despite that ruling, Trump reiterated his long-held stance that burning the U.S. flag should not be protected speech. “When you burn an American flag, you incite tremendous violence,” he said, arguing that such acts risk public safety.White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson later clarified that Trump “will always protect the First Amendment” but also intends to “prevent violence and chaos.” She said the president “will not allow the American flag, a symbol of our country’s greatness, to be used as a tool to incite violence.”Attorney General Pam Bondi supported the president’s view, claiming that the administration could still prosecute flag burnings “without running afoul of the First Amendment.”Hours after Trump signed the executive order in August, a man was arrested outside the White House for burning a flag. The U.S. Park Police said the arrest was for violating fire safety rules under the National Park Service’s regulations, not for speech itself.