Overview

• President Trump signed an executive order directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to prioritize prosecutions tied to flag desecration under existing, content‑neutral laws.
• The directive does not create a new federal crime but urges use of statutes such as property damage, public‑order or open‑fire rules, with referrals to state and local authorities when appropriate.
• The order instructs the administration to pursue immigration consequences for noncitizens involved in desecration, including visa revocations, halted naturalization and potential removal.
• The White House signaled a legal strategy to seek cases that could narrow Texas v. Johnson, with the order authorizing litigation to clarify the scope of First Amendment protections.
• Hours after the signing, a man was arrested near the White House for burning a flag under park fire rules, as civil‑liberties groups and several conservative commentators condemned the order as unconstitutional.