In a decisive policy shift, the Trump administration, under Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has directed all U.S. embassies and consulates to exclusively display the American flag, prohibiting the exhibition of other flags, including those representing LGBTQ+ Pride and Black Lives Matter (BLM).
The directive emphasizes that the U.S. flag symbolizes the nation’s core principles of justice, liberty, and democracy, uniting all Americans. The policy permits exceptions only for the Prisoner of War/Missing in Action (POW/MIA) and Wrongful Detainees flags.
This move reverses the previous administration’s stance, which had authorized the display of Pride and BLM flags at diplomatic missions worldwide. In April 2021, then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken had permitted such displays to support LGBTQ+ rights and commemorate significant events like the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia.
The new policy mandates strict adherence, warning that any employee violating the directive may face disciplinary actions, including termination or reassignment.
By standardizing flag displays, the administration aims to present a unified representation of American values abroad, focusing on national symbols that reflect the country’s shared ideals.