A man was arrested near the White House after setting an American flag on fire in Lafayette Park, just hours after President Donald Trump issued an executive order targeting flag desecration. The U.S. Secret Service responded quickly, detaining the man around 6:15 p.m. and later handing him over to the U.S. Park Police, who have jurisdiction in the area.

Authorities cited the man for violating a federal regulation that prohibits starting fires in public parks outside designated areas. The Park Police declined to release his identity, noting that such information would only be made public once formal charges were filed. Video footage of the arrest soon surfaced online and quickly spread on social media platforms.

In the video, the man identified himself as a U.S. Army veteran with over 20 years of service. Using a bullhorn, he stated he was burning the flag to protest what he called an “illegal fascist president,” referring to Trump. He emphasized his belief that the First Amendment protects flag-burning as a form of political expression and criticized the president’s attempt to criminalize it.

President Trump’s executive order directs the Department of Justice to prioritize prosecuting individuals who desecrate the flag, citing potential violations of state and local laws. It also calls for the termination or revocation of visas for foreign nationals found guilty of such acts. The move is seen as part of Trump’s broader “law and order” stance.

The order appears to challenge the 1989 Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson, which ruled flag-burning as protected free speech. Trump expressed his desire to see the ruling overturned, suggesting it no longer reflects modern legal standards or public sentiment.

Trump insisted that anyone who burns the flag should face one year in jail, describing the American flag as a sacred national symbol. He linked flag desecration with acts of hostility toward the U.S., warning of consequences for violators.