Donald Trump has unsurprisingly stirred up controversy following his re-election to President for a second term.
Just days after taking office, the 78-year-old signed 25 executive orders that included stopping the TikTok ban and declaring that there are only two genders in the United States.
Now, he has made headlines again with a controversial promise regarding what type of flags can be flown on federal buildings.
As the State Department enacted a one-flag policy, any US embassy or overseas mission cannot fly the Pride or Black Lives Matter flag, according to The Washington Free Beacon.
This means that only three flags that are not the stars and stripes of the United States’ national flag are permitted to be flown. These are: the Prisoner of War, the Missing in Action, and the Hostage of Wrongful Detainee flags.
The Beacon reported: “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.”
The order was unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Monday (20 January) in a 99-0 vote.
Both of the flags have been raised in front of official US buildings, such as the US Embassy and Consulate in Brazil, which raised the Black Lives Matter flag in February 2022 to ‘commemorate Black History Month’.
This policy proposal is part of a broader set of promises Trump outlined, which he referred to as a plan to restore “patriotic education.” He criticized what he described as the “woke agenda” infiltrating schools, embassies, and government institutions, positioning himself as a candidate focused on reinstating traditional values and opposing progressive social movements.
Trump’s comments sparked widespread reactions, with critics calling the move a direct attack on diversity and inclusivity. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and civil rights organizations quickly condemned the statement, arguing that it alienates marginalized communities.
Supporters of Trump’s proposal, however, viewed the statement as a step toward reinforcing unity under the American flag.
Many conservative commentators echoed Trump’s sentiment, with one person saying: “The American flag is ALL INCLUSIVE, the other flags [divisive] ways to raise awareness and [money] for who knows what?”
“This is amazing,” someone simply tweeted.
The controversy over the display of non-American flags on government property is not new. During his first presidency, Trump’s administration faced backlash for restricting the display of Pride flags at U.S. embassies. This latest promise appears to double down on that policy, extending it to include the Black Lives Matter flag and potentially others.
With things only heating up, Donald Trump’s proposals will likely remain a central topic of discussion, stirring further debate over the values that define the country and the role government plays in reflecting them.
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