State Department blocks Pride, BLM flags from embassies, outposts with ‘one flag policy’
The U.S. State Department has adopted a new policy under the Trump administration that effectively blocks U.S. embassies and diplomatic missions from displaying Pride and Black Lives Matter flags, according to a report released Tuesday.
The Washington Free Beacon first reported that it had obtained a copy of the “One Flag Policy” order, which allows only the American flag to be flown on American properties at home and abroad, with two notable exceptions: the prisoner of war/missing in action (POW/MIA) emblem and the Wrongful Detainees flag.
“Beginning immediately, only the flag of the United States of America is permitted to be flown or displayed on U.S. property, both domestically and abroad, and displayed in U.S. government content,” the memo said, towards the socket. “The flag of the United States of America has united all Americans under the universal principles of justice, liberty, and democracy. These values, which are the foundation of our great country, are shared by all American citizens, past and present.”
Fox News Digital reached out State Department for confirmation on the “One Flag Policy”, but we did not receive an immediate response.
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Black lives matter and flags of pride.
The policy comes after the Biden administration has courted controversy over the past four years over the display of such flags, sparking long-running debates between Democrats and Republicans.
American flags and a pride flag hang from the White House before the Pride Month celebration on the South Lawn, Saturday, June 10, 2023, in Washington, DC (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Cenet)
Former President Joe Biden was caught flying a Pride flag outside the White House during Pride Month celebrations in 2023, and in 2021 for a leaked State Department memo urging US embassies to display Black Lives Matter flags on the one year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder.
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The controversy led to GOP lawmakers introducing a bill in 2023 known as the Law One flag for all, which proposed to make it illegal to fly, hang, or display any flag other than the American flag on federal buildings or property, with limited exceptions.
Biden speaks during a Pride celebration on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC on June 10, 2023. (BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
Pride flags were first flown at US embassies during former President Barack Obama’s administration, according to Forbes, before being banned by the Trump administration in 2019. The Biden administration reinstated the option in 2021, Forbes reports.
Pride flags were later banned from flying in front of US embassies in March 2024 as part of the $1.2 trillion spending package that Biden signed.
President Donald Trump vowed to start immediately State Department after taking office, and a source familiar with the situation told Fox News that the new Trump administration will immediately move new officials into key operational roles at the State Department to ensure the department implements Trump’s foreign policy agenda from day one.
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Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, was unanimously confirmed to a position in the Government on Tuesday.
Fox News Digital’s Pilar Arias contributed to this report.
