I remember visiting Kingston, Jamaica a few years ago and we lived right near the American Embassy. Everything was lit up in rainbow colors to celebrate Pride Month and it stuck out like a sore thumb and just seemed completely out of place. All the locals I spoke to hated it. They were told what to believe right in their own capital.
It also struck me as inappropriate because in my opinion, US embassies should not be used to promote sexual orientations of any kind. They are interested in conducting diplomacy, not in making indecisive statements.
Donald Trump appears to feel the same way, according to a report on Tuesday, as the State Department has adopted a policy banning Pride and BLM flags at embassies and outposts around the world.
There are some significant exceptions:
The Washington Free Beacon first reported that it had obtained a copy of the “One Flag Policy” order, which only allows the flying of the American flag at U.S. facilities at home and abroad, with two notable exceptions: the Prisoner of War/ Missing in Action (POW/MIA) emblem and the Wrongful Detainees flag.
“Effective immediately, only the flag of the United States of America may be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities domestically and abroad and used in U.S. government content,” the memo said. according to the outlet. “The flag of the United States of America united all Americans under the universal principles of justice, freedom and democracy. These values, which are the foundation of our great country, are shared by all American citizens, past and present.”
Trump’s State Department has implemented a “One Flag Policy” that prohibits government facilities and embassies from flying any flag other than the American flag.
The international embarrassment is over. pic.twitter.com/oWB0ZuH0kC
– Libs from TikTok (@libsoftikt) January 22, 2025
Trump was only inaugurated on Monday, but already he and his administration have fundamentally changed the way things work from the border to embassies and beyond.
Make things happen:
Tom Homan is already presenting astonishing results and shocking CNN’s Dana Bash with remarks about deportation
Rubio sets out and has bureaucrats looking for a place to hide
Both Biden and Obama before him were massive fans of flying virtue flags:
The policy comes after the Biden administration stirred controversy over the flying of such flags over the past four years, sparking long debates between them Democrats and Republicans.
Former President Joe Biden drew attention for flying the Pride flag outside the White House during a Pride Month celebration in 2023, and in 2021 for a leaked State Department memo urging U.S. embassies to do so Display Black Lives Matter flags on the one-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd.
President Trump’s State Department bans PRIDE and BLM flags at embassies and outposts.
Fly ONLY with the STARS AND STRIPES.
That’s winning! pic.twitter.com/OkepTUBo5C
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 22, 2025
The State Department explains their mission on their website:
Protect and promote U.S. security, prosperity, and democratic values and create an international environment in which all Americans can thrive.
I don’t know how flying BLM flags in honor of George Floyd “creates an international environment in which all Americans can thrive,” nor do I understand how flying Pride flags around the world “enhances security “promotes the prosperity and democratic values of the USA”. ”
The message from the president and his newly installed Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is: Stop fooling around with all this woke stuff and get back to the real work of statesmanship and strengthening America.
