Bronze Star Veteran Defies Trump’s Flag-Burning Crackdown: “I’ll Take This to the Supreme Court”

A decorated Army veteran is daring President Donald Trump to bring him down after being arrested for burning an American flag just steps from the White House.

Jan “Jay” Robert Carey, 54, lit the flag ablaze in Lafayette Square on Monday in what he calls a “direct challenge” to Trump’s new executive order cracking down on flag desecration.

“I fought for this country for over 20 years,” Carey told reporters. “I fought for your rights — all of them — including the right to burn that flag if you choose. Presidents don’t get to rewrite the Constitution.”

Hours earlier, President Trump had signed a sweeping executive order directing the Justice Department to prosecute anyone who burns the American flag.

“You burn a flag, you get one year in jail. No exceptions,” Trump declared from the Oval Office. “It stops today.”

While the order acknowledges a 1989 Supreme Court ruling protecting flag burning under the First Amendment, it claims individuals can be prosecuted if the act incites violence or amounts to “fighting words.”

Within hours, Carey — a Bronze Star recipient who served in Kuwait, Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan — decided to make himself the test case.

“I wanted the biggest impact possible,” he said. “So I went to the White House. That flag went up in flames where he couldn’t ignore it.”

Secret Service agents moved quickly, detaining Carey before handing him over to U.S. Park Police. After five hours in custody, he was released with two misdemeanor citations for starting an unauthorized fire in a federal park.

This is replacing a previous post: A Veteran was detained outside of the White House by Secret Service after burning an American flag. pic.twitter.com/kXL5gPc2aj

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But Carey says the government isn’t done with him.

“I’ve already had Secret Service calling my wife, calling my son, leaving voicemails,” he revealed. “They’re investigating me for more charges. This isn’t about safety. It’s about ego. I embarrassed him, and now he wants to make an example out of me.”

The Secret Service confirmed the detention but declined to comment on any ongoing investigations.

Carey insists this isn’t just about his arrest — it’s about the limits of presidential power.

“The First Amendment is clear,” he said. “Congress shall make no law. Presidents shall make no law. The people’s rights are not negotiable.”

Legal experts agree this could become a landmark battle. Trump’s order directly challenges the 1989 Supreme Court decision in Texas v. Johnson, where the court ruled 5-4 that flag burning is constitutionally protected speech.

But with a 6-3 conservative majority now on the bench, Carey’s gamble is risky.

He’s ready anyway.

“I welcome it,” Carey said. “If this goes all the way to the Supreme Court, good. Let’s settle this once and for all.”

Carey isn’t alone. He’s part of a small but growing veterans’ group protesting Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops across U.S. cities.

“We fought for freedom, not for government control,” Carey explained. “Trump doesn’t get to decide which rights we keep.”

Supporters have already gathered around Lafayette Square, waving signs and chanting slogans against Trump’s crackdown. At the same time, pro-Trump groups have vowed to “defend the flag” and are planning counter-protests this weekend.

Carey is awaiting a court summons and says he’s secured legal representation. If federal prosecutors pursue harsher charges, his case could quickly move up the judicial ladder — potentially setting up one of the most consequential First Amendment battles in decades.

For now, he’s standing firm.

“They can charge me, they can threaten me, but I won’t back down,” Carey said. “I fought for that flag. And I’ll fight for the right to burn it if I want.”