Piers Morgan defended Donald Trump’s comments on desecrating the American flag Tuesday, telling the Twitter community that Hillary Clinton previously “backed criminalisation of flag-burning.”
In a series of tweets, the journalist posted a “memo to Trump-haters going nuts again today” after the president-elect fired off a tweet stating that people who burn the American flag should face severe consequences, even though the practice is protected under the First Amendment.
Memo to Trump-haters going nuts again today:
Hillary Clinton sponsored an (unsuccessful) 2005 bill to make flag-burning a crime in US.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2016
What @nytimes said when Hillary backed criminalisation of flag-burning: https://t.co/4TRW0YBRPn
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2016
Hillary wanted to make flag-burning a crime too.
Why no similar outrage over her? https://t.co/uGvdUi2mU7— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2016
a) Trump's team have made it clear there will be no 'Muslim registry'.
b) Hillary agrees with him re flag-burning.
Calm. Down. https://t.co/MZWlFTuqZg— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2016
Even when a Twitter user responded that Clinton never advocated for, as Trump suggested, the removal of U.S. citizenship should someone burn a flag, Morgan had a comment for that.
She wanted to make it a crime. https://t.co/Ub8VHzVRgG
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2016
Trump’s initial tweet read, “Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag – if they do, there must be consequences – perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!” The tweet is presumably a response to Hampshire College students burning flags as a way to protest the election results.
Morgan begged for Trump haters to “give him a chance,” once again reminding fellow Twitter users that Clinton campaigned for “this flag-burning issue.” However, he added that he doesn’t “support” the media mogul, but just simply wants to “point out the absurdly demented behavior of all you Trump-hating fanatics.”
Then calm down & give him a chance. This flag-burning issue is something Hillary campaigned for! https://t.co/Pa23MyORjP
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2016
I don't 'support' him, I simply point out the absurdly demented behaviour of all you Trump-hating fanatics. https://t.co/5amSDdvyAh
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2016
Yes, and deporting illegal immigrants. Hillary's much more similar to Trump than her supporters want to know. https://t.co/8GbGbRCmPW
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2016
According a New York Times article from 2005, Clinton co-sponsored a bill to “criminalize the burning of the American flag. Her supporters would characterize this as an attempt to find a middle way between those who believe that flag-burning is constitutionally protected free speech and those who want to ban it, even if it takes a constitutional amendment.”
Presidential transition team communications director Jason Miller appeared on CNN’s “New Day” shortly after Trump’s tweet to defend his boss.
“Flag burning is completely ridiculous and I think you know that. I think the vast majority of Americans would agree,” Miller said before CNN’s Chris Cuomo chimed in, “But legal.”