US to impose penalties for burning country’s flag

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to sign an executive order that would allow certain cases of prosecution for burning the U.S. flag, NewsNation reports, citing sources from the presidential administration.

According to the sources, the executive order could be signed on Aug. 21. Under the order, the flag burning itself will not be illegal. Instead, it would permit prosecution only if the act of burning the flag leads to negative consequences, such as injuries to people, a source explained.

In such cases, the actions could be classified as violations of public order, hooliganism, or breaches of environmental protection laws.

The executive order would also direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to review past flag-burning cases and determine whether prosecution is possible for those involved.

Flag burning as a form of protest is currently not illegal, according to a 1989 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.