President Donald Trump has reportedly initiated a controversial step by banning the display of Pride and Black Lives Matter flags at US embassies shortly after commencing his term in office.
This decisive action marks an emphatic start to his presidential tenure, having already executed a number of executive orders including the reversal of the TikTok ban, modifications to immigration policies, and a declaration regarding gender identification within the United States.
The new stipulation, as indicated by The Washington Free Beacon, proposes a ‘one flag policy’ whereby US embassies or missions abroad are prohibited from flying either the Pride or BLM flags. This policy limits the display to three specified flags alongside the United States national flag.
The permitted flags are the Prisoner of War flag, the Missing in Action flag, and the Hostage of Wrongful Detainee flag. The directive highlighted by the news agency reads: “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 policy was unanimously confirmed by the Senate with a 99-0 vote, signifying strong legislative backing. Notably, both the Pride and BLM flags have been famously raised in various official US buildings around the globe, such as the US Embassy and Consulate in Brazil and similar displays in Trinidad and Tobago in recognition of significant cultural events.
The order originated from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stated, “The U.S. flag is a powerful symbol of pride and it is fitting and respectful that only the U.S. flag be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestically and abroad.”
Kevin Jennings, the chief executive officer at Lambda Legal, voiced criticism of the order, calling it ‘petty and mean-spirited’. He argued that flying such flags serves as an inclusionary gesture to marginalized communities, in no way causing harm, while suggesting the nation has more pressing issues to address.
The enforcement of this policy will not tolerate deviations, threatening disciplinary measures, including termination or reassignment for State Department employees who do not comply with these restrictions. This decree has sparked significant backlash on social media, where users have expressed outrage, viewing it as a suppression of free expression and a potential human rights issue.
