‘I’m a Big Believer in Free Speech’
Donald Trump Friday afternoon told supporters in Louisiana that he’s a “big believer” in free speech, but he will have to take action, suggesting he can do “something” to make it illegal to desecrate the U.S. flag. Twice the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that burning or otherwise destroying the American flag is protected speech according to the First Amendment.
“I think it’s a disgrace, OK?” Trump told his audience, reprising a strange attack on free speech he made weeks ago, seemingly out of nowhere.
“And you can say what you want – free speech – it’s wonderful, everything’s wonderful. I’m a big believer in free speech,” he continued. “Maybe we’re going to be putting something in to see if we can do something about it because this is a special case. And when I see people burning the American flag, and then stepping on it, as it’s burning up, and stomping on it and stepping on it on the ground,” Trump continued.
“I don’t think – I don’t remember that when I was growing –” he continued, saying, when he was younger, “I don’t remember that happening.”
Of course, Trump’s very selective memory aside, flag burning is protected free speech, and for many years it’s been considered one of the ultimate acts of protest.
During the Vietnam War, when Trump was “younger” and “growing up,” although her doesn’t like to mention it, flag burning was a very popular form of protest.Â
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