President-elect Donald Trump has expressed frustration over the U.S. flags being flown at half-staff which is a directive issued by President Joe Biden to honor the late former President Jimmy Carter who passed away at 100 on Sunday. The flags will remain lowered during Trump’s inauguration and for the first week of his administration.
Trump criticized the flag-lowering directive on social media, stating, “Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about flags being lowered during my presidency.” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre affirmed Biden has no intention of revisiting the decision.
Why Are Flags Lowered at Half-Staff?
Lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff is a national gesture of mourning. According to the U.S. flag codes, flags should be lowered for 30 days following the death of a current or former president. This applies to federal buildings, U.S. embassies, military installations, and vessels. Flags are also lowered to honor other officials, such as the vice president, Supreme Court justices, or members of Congress, though for shorter durations.
Other occasions for lowering flags include national tragedies or events like Memorial Day and state flags are also lowered during these periods since no flag is permitted to fly higher than the U.S. flag.
How Long Will Flags Be at Half-Staff?
Per Biden’s proclamation, U.S. flags will remain at half-staff for 30 days from Carter’s passing, until January 28. This means flags will be lowered during Trump’s inauguration on January 20 and throughout the first week of his presidency.
According to the U.S. General Services Administration, the president, state governors, and the mayor of Washington, D.C., can order flags to be flown at half-staff.
Historical Context
Although the flag code isn’t mandatory, Trump could technically override the order after taking office. This has happened before; in 1973, President Richard Nixon temporarily raised flags early after Lyndon Johnson’s death to honor POWs returning from Vietnam. Trump’s relationship with flag-lowering traditions has been contentious, including his brief refusal to lower flags for Sen. John McCain in 2018, which drew bipartisan criticism.
