Despite President Biden’s order to fly flags at half-staff for 30 days following the death of former President Jimmy Carter—a period encompassing President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration—several Republican officials have directed that flags in their jurisdictions be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day.
To honor President Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at age 100, President Biden declared that flags on government buildings would be flown at half-staff as a sign of mourning.
Several Republican Governors issued statements last week ordering flags at state buildings to be raised to full-staff for the inauguration, then lowered the following day.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a strong Trump supporter, explained his decision on January 13, stating, “While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead for the United States of America.”
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey also announced on January 13 that she would raise flags for the inauguration.
On January 14, House Speaker Mike Johnson followed suit, ordering flags at the U.S. Capitol to be raised to full-staff for the inauguration and then lowered the next day. Johnson stated his reasoning was “to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump.”
Throughout January 14, other Republican governors, including those in Nebraska, North Dakota, Tennessee, Florida, Iowa, and Idaho, issued similar orders.
Florida Governor DeSantis, whose state is home to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence, said his decision was “to honor the tradition of our founding fathers and the sacrifices made by those who have served to ensure the torch of liberty continues to burn strong.”
This action follows Trump’s post on Truth Social, claiming Democrats were “giddy” about the half-staff flags during his inauguration. He wrote, “In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out.” Several governors who raised the flags during the mourning period maintained that they were still adhering to federal guidelines.
Governors Lee and Ivey cited a section of the U.S. Flag Code that outlines occasions for displaying the flag, including Inauguration Day. However, the code doesn’t specify that flags must be at full-staff on that day. The code states, “The flag should be displayed on all days, especially on…Inauguration Day, January 20,” listing it among other federal holidays. Biden’s proclamation, however, aligns with a section specifying that “The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President.”