Pride flags removed from US outposts worldwide

The State Department issued the directive shortly after President Donald Trump took office, per the Washington Free Beacon, the order will ban flags affiliated with left-wing movements such as Pride or Black Lives Matter 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 stated. “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 directive allows exceptions for the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) emblem and the Wrongful Detainees Flag. However, violations by State Department employees could result in disciplinary actions, including termination, contract cancellation, or reassignment.

"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," the order said.

The policy marks a shift from the practices of the Biden administration, which permitted pride flags and other banners to be displayed alongside the US flag at embassies and consulates. For instance, the U.S. Embassy in Nassau raised a Pride flag in June 2021 to “honor the human rights of LGBTQI+ persons in The Bahamas and around the world.” In 2022, the US Embassy in Brazil flew a Black Lives Matter flag during Black History Month.

The new policy was issued after Marco Rubio was sworn in as Secretary of State on Tuesday. It is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to combat what it describes as "woke" practices within the federal government.

“On the President’s direction, the State Department will have an America-First foreign policy," the White House said in a press release on Monday.