The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in 1989 that burning the American flag is an act of political expression protected by the Constitution. Trump’s executive order acknowledged that ruling, but said there is still room to prosecute flag burning if it “is likely to incite imminent lawless action” or amounts to “fighting words.”

Washington — President Trump signed an executive order Monday that seeks to punish people who burn the American flag, accusing those who do so of displaying hostility and contempt toward the United States.