Republicans are applauding Trump’s latest decision.
Under the Trump administration, the U.S. State Department enacted a new policy aimed at preserving the sanctity of the American flag at all U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. The policy, known as the “One Flag Policy,” mandates that only the American flag be flown at U.S. government facilities, both domestically and abroad. This directive effectively bans the display of any other flags, including the Pride and Black Lives Matter flags, with limited exceptions for the POW/MIA (Prisoner of War/Missing in Action) flag and the Wrongful Detainees Flag.
The “One Flag Policy” reaffirms the importance of the American flag as the unifying symbol of the nation’s core values—justice, liberty, and democracy. As stated in a memo obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, the American flag represents the ideals that have long defined the United States, transcending partisan and divisive issues. The memo emphasizes that this singular focus on the American flag will promote unity among Americans, regardless of background, and uphold the principles on which the nation was founded.
This move comes in stark contrast to the policies of the Biden administration, which faced considerable backlash over its decision to allow the display of the Pride flag outside U.S. embassies and consulates during Pride Month in 2023. Additionally, the Biden administration was criticized for encouraging the display of the Black Lives Matter flag in 2021, following the anniversary of George Floyd’s death. These decisions sparked heated debates and were seen by many Republicans as an inappropriate politicization of government institutions.
In response to these controversies, Republican lawmakers introduced the One Flag for All Act in 2023. The bill sought to prohibit the display of any flag other than the American flag on federal properties, with a few exceptions, reinforcing the idea that the U.S. government should prioritize national unity over divisive political causes.
The debate over flag displays at U.S. embassies isn’t new. The Obama administration was the first to allow Pride flags to be flown at diplomatic posts, a policy that was rescinded by the Trump administration in 2019. Under Biden, the policy was once again reversed, only to face opposition from conservatives who argued that government buildings should remain focused on American symbols, not partisan or political agendas.
Ultimately, the “One Flag Policy” represents a return to a more traditional approach, where the American flag remains the sole representative of the nation’s ideals and values. This move reflects the Trump administration’s commitment to restoring national pride and unity by ensuring that the government remains neutral in the realm of political activism.