Trump Frustrated by Half-Staff Flags Honoring President Carter

3 Jan at 9:05 pm

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Trump Frustrated by Half-Staff Flags Honoring President Carter \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President-elect Donald Trump has expressed frustration that flags will remain at half-staff during his inauguration, following President Joe Biden’s order to honor the late President Jimmy Carter, who passed away at 100. U.S. flags will stay lowered for 30 days, a tradition to mourn a former president. Trump may choose to raise the flags early once in office.

Flags at Half-Staff: Trump’s Inauguration Quick Looks

Reason for Half-Staff: Flags honor the late President Jimmy Carter, per a presidential proclamation.
Duration: Flags will remain at half-staff until Jan. 28, covering the first week of Trump’s administration.
Trump’s Reaction: Trump criticized the timing as politically motivated but cannot alter the order until Jan. 20.
Historical Precedents: Nixon raised flags early in 1973, and Trump faced criticism over flag protocols in 2018.
Who Decides?: U.S. flag code allows the president, governors, and the D.C. mayor to issue half-staff orders.

Deep Look

The death of former President Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, at the age of 100 has triggered a 30-day national mourning period during which U.S. flags are flown at half-staff. This traditional gesture of respect, ordered by President Joe Biden, coincides with the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. Trump has expressed frustration over the timing, seeing it as an unfavorable backdrop to the beginning of his administration.

As flags across the nation and abroad remain lowered until January 28, the situation raises questions about the protocols governing flag-lowering, the authority to modify such orders, and the broader implications of this symbolic act during a political transition.

The Tradition of Lowering Flags

Flying the U.S. flag at half-staff is a deeply symbolic gesture denoting national mourning. The U.S. Flag Code, established in 1942, provides guidelines for when and how flags should be lowered. According to the code, flags should be flown at half-staff for 30 days following the death of a sitting or former president.

This practice extends to federal buildings, military installations, U.S. embassies abroad, and vessels, ensuring that the nation collectively observes the period of mourning. Importantly, state flags are also lowered during this time, as no flag is permitted to fly higher than the U.S. flag on the same pole or nearby.

Beyond presidents, flags may be lowered for shorter periods to honor other officials, including vice presidents, Supreme Court justices, and members of Congress. Additionally, flags may be lowered to mark national tragedies or observances such as Memorial Day.

President Biden’s Proclamation

President Biden issued a proclamation on the day of Carter’s death, ordering flags to be flown at half-staff through January 28. The decision reflects the longstanding tradition of honoring deceased presidents with a 30-day mourning period, acknowledging Carter’s contributions as a leader and humanitarian.

This timeline means that flags will remain lowered during President-elect Trump’s inauguration and his first week in office. While this is not without precedent, it places Trump in the position of beginning his presidency during a national mourning period—a dynamic he has criticized as politically inconvenient.

Trump’s Reaction

President-elect Trump has voiced his dissatisfaction with the flag-lowering order. In a social media post, he accused Democrats of celebrating the timing, stating, “Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about the notion that flags will be lowered when I take office. No American can be happy about it.”

The comments have drawn mixed reactions, with some viewing them as a political deflection and others as an expression of frustration over starting his term in a period marked by somber symbolism.

Asked about Trump’s remarks, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed President Biden’s commitment to the mourning period for Carter, dismissing any possibility of revisiting the proclamation.

Can Trump Raise the Flags Early?

Once Trump is inaugurated on January 20, he will have the authority to amend the proclamation and raise the flags early. The U.S. Flag Code, while authoritative, is not legally binding, allowing presidents the discretion to modify or override its guidelines.

Historical precedent exists for such a move. In 1973, President Richard Nixon temporarily raised flags that had been lowered to honor former President Lyndon B. Johnson. This decision coincided with the return of the first American prisoners of war from Vietnam. After a day of full-staff flags, the mourning period resumed for eight more days.

If Trump chooses to raise the flags early, he could do so in an effort to signal the start of a new administration and shift public focus. However, such a decision might be perceived as disrespectful to Carter’s legacy and could spark criticism for breaking with tradition.

Trump’s History with Flag Protocol Controversies

This is not the first time Trump has faced scrutiny over flag-lowering practices. In 2018, following the death of Senator John McCain, Trump ordered flags at the White House to return to full-staff after just two days. This decision stood in contrast to the extended mourning periods observed at the U.S. Capitol and other locations.

The move drew bipartisan backlash, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers criticizing the perceived lack of respect. After public outcry, the flags were lowered again. McCain’s family, reflecting a strained relationship with Trump, had requested that the then-president not attend the senator’s funeral.

These past controversies add context to Trump’s current frustrations and highlight the sensitive nature of flag-lowering protocols in political and symbolic contexts.

Historical Context of Flag-Lowering During Transitions

While rare, the overlap of a presidential mourning period with a transition of power has occurred before:

Lyndon Johnson (1973): When Johnson passed away shortly before Nixon’s second inauguration, flags were lowered. Nixon raised them briefly for the return of Vietnam POWs before resuming the mourning period.
Franklin Roosevelt (1945): Flags were lowered for Roosevelt’s death during World War II, coinciding with the early days of President Harry Truman’s administration.
George H.W. Bush (2018): Flags were flown at half-staff for the full 30 days after Bush’s death, honoring the tradition without significant political controversy.

These examples illustrate the balance between respecting tradition and adapting to concurrent national events.

Implications for Trump’s Inauguration

The presence of half-staff flags during Trump’s inauguration sets a somber tone that contrasts with the celebratory nature of a presidential swearing-in. This dynamic poses a challenge for Trump, who may see the lowered flags as detracting from the optimism of his new administration.

If Trump decides to raise the flags early, he risks criticism for prioritizing optics over tradition. Conversely, maintaining the half-staff order could be viewed as an acknowledgment of Carter’s legacy, demonstrating a willingness to respect institutional norms.

Looking Ahead

The intersection of President Carter’s mourning period with President-elect Trump’s inauguration highlights the interplay between tradition, symbolism, and political dynamics. For Trump, the situation presents an early test of leadership, requiring a balance between personal preferences and public expectations.

Whether Trump chooses to adhere to the established timeline or modify it will be closely watched as a reflection of his approach to governance and respect for tradition. Regardless of his decision, the mourning period for Carter underscores the enduring significance of symbolic gestures in American political life.