Army Veteran Detained After Burning American Flag Outside White House

Washington, D.C. - On Friday afternoon, a 22-year U.S. Army veteran was taken into custody outside the White House after setting an American flag ablaze in protest of President Donald Trump’s recently signed executive order targeting flag desecration.

According to video footage from Lafayette Park, the man-who identified himself as a retired combat veteran and Bronze Star recipient-doused the flag with an accelerant before igniting it at approximately 5:45 p.m. He then addressed onlookers through a megaphone, declaring, “It is our First Amendment right to burn this flag, regardless of what the president says,” and accusing the president of trampling constitutional liberties.

Secret Service agents intervened within minutes, leading the veteran away from the smoldering flag. He was subsequently turned over to U.S. Park Police, who cited him for violating a statute prohibiting the ignition of fires in national parkland. Officials clarified that no charges related directly to flag desecration were filed, as burning the flag remains protected symbolic speech under the First Amendment and Supreme Court precedent.

The incident comes days after President Trump signed an executive order directing the Attorney General to pursue litigation aimed at reconsidering the constitutional scope of flag-burning protections. In signing the order, the president asserted that flag desecration “incites violence and riots” and remarked publicly that individuals convicted of burning the flag could face up to one year in prison, though the order itself does not stipulate a specific penalty.

Free-speech advocates and conservative commentators swiftly condemned any effort to criminalize flag burning, citing the landmark 1989 Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson, which affirmed that flag burning constitutes protected political expression. Meanwhile, supporters of stricter enforcement argue the flag’s symbolic importance warrants enhanced legal consequences.

As of this evening, the veteran remains free pending a hearing on the park-fire violation. His attorney has indicated plans to challenge any further legal action on First Amendment grounds.