The move comes days after President Trump called displays “freedom of speech.”

Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday issued a directive effectively banning displays of the Confederate flag at U.S. military bases.

“With this change in policy, we will further improve the morale, cohesion, and readiness of the force in defense of our great Nation,” he said in a tweet announcing the move.

Just days ago, President Donald Trump called displays of the Confederate flag “freedom of speech.”

“Flags are powerful symbols, particularly in the military community for whom flags
embody common mission, common histories, and the special, timeless bond of warriors. As
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, a veteran of the Second World War, once wrote about
the United States flag: “It is a symbol of freedom, of equal opportunity, of religious tolerance,
and of good will for other peoples who share our aspirations.” We wear this flag on our sleeves;
we honor it prominently on parade fields; we carry it into combat; and, we drape it over the
coffins of those who have given their lives for our Nation,” Esper wrote in a memorandum titled “Public Display or Depiction of Flags in the Department of Defense.”

“We must always remain focused on what unifies us: our sworn oath to the Constitution
and our shared duty to defend the Nation. I am committed to fielding the most powerful military
force the world has known by strengthening the bonds of our most valuable resource – our
people. That is why we honor the American flag, which is the principal flag we are authorized
and encouraged to display. The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good
order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect, and rejecting divisive
symbols,” he said.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.