A veteran took to the White House and burnt the US flag to prove a point that Donald Trump’s latest executive order outlawing the burning of the American flag was unconstitutional. He was quickly arrested, and now people are questioning whether his First Amendment rights were violated.
The veteran turned up outside the White House, placed the American flag on the floor, doused it with gasoline, and lit it. Strapped with a megaphone, he then started addressing the crowd of tourists, who all had their cameras out, explaining how Trump’s latest executive order is an infringement on First Amendment rights. He then went on to call Trump a ‘fascist.’
In a now-trending video on social media, the veteran is seen being escorted by police shortly after his protest in front of the White House. On X, one commenter applauded him and said that he’s right, adding, “Why is he being arrested?” Another user suggested this might be another Trump loss at the courts, calling it a slam dunk for the veteran’s attorney. A different commenter added their perspective, saying, “his flag, his rules.” Reactions were pretty mixed, with some speculating whether his arrest was more related to the fire than what he was actually burning, but the fact remains people are split on this new executive order.
He’s right. Why is he being arrested?
—Eye of Bass
(@eyeofbass) August 26, 2025
This will be a slam dunk for his attorney.
— ThePhoenician666 (@TPhoenician666) August 26, 2025
A draft dodging piece of shit having a veteran arrested for using his free speech. This cannot be tolerated, America.
His flag, his rules. He owes nothing to politicians, cops, or flag-waving hypocrites who hide their corruption behind red, white, and blue.
— Restonian
(@restonian_va) August 26, 2025
There has been a long-standing debate on the protection of First Amendment rights and the protection of national symbols that far predate the Trump presidency or this particular veteran’s protest. Trump’s presidency has always been about positioning himself as a protector of traditional American values and being the sole arbiter of what is un-American, regardless of whether even his base agrees with him or not. So his executive order is not all that surprising.
As of this moment, Trump’s latest executive order means that if you are caught burning the flag as a part of your protest, you will be jailed for one year. He explained his reasoning, saying, “If you burn a flag, you get one year in jail, no early exits, no nothing.” But free speech advocacy groups disagree. According to Reuters, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression strongly condemned Trump’s executive order.
The advocacy groups fully acknowledge how uniquely provocative flag burning is and how most Americans find it reprehensible. However, they argue that free speech is best countered by expressing yourself even more extensively when someone says or expresses something you deeply disagree with. The groups suggested expressing your disagreement through words or even flying your flag higher to counter the burning.
Multiple civil rights groups have been putting the president’s feet to the fire over his trouncing of constitutionally protected rights. Trump has been called out for deporting foreign-born students for criticizing Israel’s war in Gaza, and his administration has been criticized for trying to suspend habeas corpus. This latest executive order simply adds to the growing trend of Trump enforcing his ideals whether they’re constitutional or not.
The veteran, however, will have his day in court, and his lawyers will do their best to argue his case — that’s how democracies should deal with disagreements after all: by listening to both sides of an argument.
