WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The statement followed the series of flag burning incidents in the United States as an expression of protest by the US citizens who oppose Donald Trump’s win in the presidential election. In Los Angeles and Portland the demonstrations resulted in unrest with hundreds of people arrested.
“Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag — if they do, there must be consequences — perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail,” Trump wrote on Twitter.
Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag — if they do, there must be consequences — perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 29 ноября 2016 г.
Burning a US flag is not punished by law in the United States, instead it is identified as “symbolic speech” under the First Amendment of the Constitution.