This archive report was first published on 17 July 2020.
On Friday, the Pentagon announced a policy that prohibits the display of Confederate flags on military installations around the world, without directly mentioning the word 'Confederate'.
Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper issued guidance that lists the types of flags that can be displayed on military installations, including those of American states and territories, military services, and other countries that are allies of the United States.
While the guidance does not specifically say that Confederate flags are banned, they do not fit into any of the approved categories, and any such flags are prohibited.
“Problem solved — we hope,” said a Defense Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to avoid angering President Trump.
The move shows the gap that has developed between the White House and the movement for racial justice that has swept across the country since the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police in May.
Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has called for a hard look at changing the names of Army bases honoring Confederate officers who fought against the Union during the Civil War.
President Trump has sided with those who want symbols of the Confederacy to remain in place, writing on Twitter, “The United States of America trained and deployed our HEROES on these Hallowed Grounds, and won two World Wars. Therefore, my Administration will not even consider the renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations. Our history as the Greatest Nation in the World will not be tampered with. Respect our Military!”
However, top Republican leaders in Congress have indicated they would broadly support measures to strip military bases of Confederate symbols, including Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Kevin McCarthy.
