Donald Trump signed an executive order today that purports to prosecute anyone who burns the American flag, except, of course, that burning the American flag is a constitutionally protected act of free speech—and has been for decades.

This executive order, like most Trump pronouncements, is meant to rouse his MAGA base while providing cover for harassment. The order doesn’t actually criminalize flag burning. Instead it directs the prosecution of anyone who is deemed to be “causing harm” by burning (or, more broadly, “desecrating”) the flag. The order specifically calls out “crimes against property and the peace” as well as those who are “aiding and abetting others to violate” the law. It also directs government agencies to “deny, prohibit, terminate, or revoke visas, residence permits, naturalization proceedings, and other immigration benefits, or seek removal from the United States.”

I expect “the flag” to be extended to mean any representations of the flag—on uniforms, plus pictures, lapel pins, hats, and T-shirts—and “desecration” to mean “was in any way sullied or dirtied.” A photo of a burning flag on your social media account will be considered a desecration.

Therefore, I expect this order to be used against protesters cheering on a flag burner, future sandwich slingers who splatter anyone wearing a flag pin, and demonstrators carrying the American flag who are careless enough to get tear gas sprayed on it.

In other words, it’s one more excuse for the Trump regime to go after their perceived enemies—especially anyone not born here or with Not Okay skin tones.

I anticipate the “Prosecuting Mean Words Said About Donald Trump” executive order to land any day now.