What a difference four years can make. Across both traditional and social media, many Britons are now looking at Donald Trump’s leadership and wishing for the same in their own country. It’s not hard to see why.
Once a nation admired around the globe for its courage and resolve, Britain now finds itself under a government that seems to lack direction. While Labour seems intent on dismantling the country it governs, Trump is always ready to bolster America’s heritage without hesitation.
Just this week, President Trump took a significant step to protect his nation’s identity and symbols, doing more in one executive order than Sir Keir Starmer has achieved during his leadership of Britain. Trump’s latest move seeks to authorise legal action against those who burn the American flag, reported GB News.
The order states: “My Administration will act to restore respect and sanctity to the American Flag and prosecute those who incite violence or otherwise violate our laws while desecrating this symbol of our country, to the fullest extent permissible under any available authority.”
It’s important to note that the order doesn’t criminalise protest—it specifically targets violent actions meant to provoke harm. The statement clarifies: “If you burn our flag to stir violence or destruction, the law won’t turn a blind eye. That’s hardly oppression; it’s responsibility. It’s the tone Western democracies deserve when respected symbols face assault.”
The order acknowledges the 1989 Supreme Court ruling that flag burning is protected as expressive conduct, but argues that acts inciting lawless action could still face legal consequences.
Meanwhile, British leadership has appeared reluctant to defend the nation’s own symbols. In places like Tower Hamlets, local councils have removed St George’s and Union flags after complaints about inclusivity. These incidents have sparked public debate and frustration. Critics argue that this reflects a broader unwillingness to defend British identity.
The St George’s Cross, once a symbol of unity and pride for Britons, is now deemed divisive by some who should be celebrating it. This is a deep form of self-loathing—a betrayal of the identity that once unified the nation.
Such actions have led to a national outcry, with many Britons questioning why their own flag is treated as controversial while foreign flags are flown freely. This selective approach has caused quiet anger, as people wonder why their national pride is something to apologise for.
This hesitation weakens the very essence of a culture that shaped law, liberty, and resilience for generations. Where is the response from Downing Street? Where is the call to raise the flag proudly, as Trump has done? Starmer’s response has been tepid at best.
His spokesperson weakly claimed that “patriotism will always be important to him,” adding that English flags go up “every time the English football team, the women’s and men’s, are around.” But really? The Flag of England has become little more than a prop, rather than a symbol of the nation’s enduring spirit.
For those of us across the Atlantic, this is baffling. From Trump’s decision to restore Churchill’s bust to the Oval Office (a bust removed by Obama and Biden) to his recent actions to protect the American flag, we Americans still honour Britain’s “finest hour” when it stood resolute against tyranny.
The St George’s Cross and the Union Jack carry the weight of Britain’s heritage—its literature, laws, and victories. To see them disregarded is to challenge that legacy.
Where leaders like Churchill and Thatcher used national symbols to unite the country in times of crisis, Starmer’s inaction emboldens those who seek to erase them.
Labour’s approach has been one of careful inclusivity, but it often hesitates to show pride in British traditions unless it’s been focus-grouped. They’ve done little to defend the country’s symbols. One Labour minister, Torsten Bell, even suggested that political attention should focus on public services rather than “worrying about flags.”
In stark contrast, Trump has demonstrated clear conviction. With one executive order, he reaffirmed what millions of Americans—and Britons—believe: national pride isn’t something to be ashamed of; it’s a priority.
Trump’s stance on protecting symbols from vandals is about more than patriotism; it’s about respect. Meanwhile, Starmer’s tenure has seen economic decline and social unrest. The difference between the two nations couldn’t be clearer.
Yet, the British lion is stirring once again. Movements like Raise the Colours and Reform UK are gaining momentum. Across the country, Britons are rallying—through petitions, community displays, and defiant flag-raising events—to reclaim their heritage.
The reckoning for Labour in 2029 can’t come soon enough. It will be a welcome return to the Britain that inspired the world—and still can.
