President Donald Trump’s State Department has banned all U.S. foreign outposts from flying any flags other than the American flag.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly implemented a policy that orders all embassies, consulates, and other outposts that they will only be authorized to fly the American flag, the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) flag and Wrongful Detainees Flags.
“Starting immediately, only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad, and featured in U.S. government content,” the order, which was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, states. “The flag of the United States of America united all Americans under the universal principles of justice, liberty, and democracy. These values, which are the bedrock of our great country, are shared by all American citizens, past and present. … The U.S. flag is a powerful symbol of pride and it is fitting and respectful that only the U.S. flag be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestically and abroad.”
According to the order, any State Department employee who violates the policy will “face disciplinary action, including termination of employment or contract, or reassignment to their home agency.”
This order is a major change from the Biden administration, which allowed LGBT pride flags and Black Lives Matter flags to fly at U.S. outposts. According to The Daily Wire, “In April 2021, then-Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken authorized U.S. embassies and consulates to fly the rainbow pride flag on the same pole as the American flag.”
President Trump’s State Department BANS PRIDE and BLM flags at embassies and outposts.
Fly ONLY the STARS AND STRIPES.
This is winning! pic.twitter.com/OkepTUBo5C
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 22, 2025
The State Department bragged about the move in June 2021, celebrating the fact that the U.S. embassy in Nassau “raised the rainbow Pride Flag to honor the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in The Bahamas and around the world. The widely recognized rainbow flag will fly from the flagpole of the U.S. Embassy in Downtown Nassau, and at the Chief of Mission Residence on Sanford Road.”
“The administration also raised the Black Lives Matter flag at the U.S. embassy and consulates in Brazil to celebrate Black History Month in February 2022,” the Washington Free Beacon reported.
This order comes after Trump already banned so-called “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” (DEI) initiatives in all government agencies:
