President Donald Trump 's decision to sign an executive order seeking to punish those who burn the American flag drew sharp backlash from longtime conservatives who criticized the administration for violating free speech protections.

Why It Matters

Trump's executive order, which he signed Monday, defies longstanding Supreme Court precedent. The High Court issued a landmark 5-4 ruling in 1989 saying that burning the flag is protected by the First Amendment because it constitutes symbolic and political speech.

Justice William Brennan wrote at the time that the government could not prohibit expression merely because it's offensive.

What To Know

Trump's executive order says the Department of Justice should bring federal cases "against acts of American Flag desecration that violate a

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