Trump tweeted this morning that he believes people who burn the flag should either lose their citizenship or be imprisoned for one year:
Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag – if they do, there must be consequences – perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 29, 2016
Does Trump not realize that the United States Flag code says the way to respectfully destroy the flag is to burn it?
The United States Flag Code (4 USC Sec 8 Para (k) Amended 7 July 1976) states: “The Flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.”
Yes I know he’s likely talking about burning the flag in protest, but he doesn’t specify so I thought I’d point this out. I doubt he even knows this.
I have no idea why he’s weighing in on this as president elect. The Supreme Court has already ruled that flag burning is free speech and all he’s going to do is stoke many people who don’t like him into burning the flag – SIMPLY BECAUSE HE TWEETED THIS.
Also a year imprisonment or loss of citizenship for burning the flag seems pretty harsh to me.