President-elect Donald Trump has expressed displeasure regarding the planned half-staffing of U.S. flags during his upcoming inauguration. This decision, made by President Biden to honor the late President Jimmy Carter, is a protocol dictated by established tradition and existing guidelines. Trump’s frustration stems from the timing, as the flags will remain at half-staff for the first week of his presidency.
The lowering of the U.S. flag to half-staff is a symbolic gesture of national mourning. The U.S. Flag Code outlines specific parameters, including a 30-day period of mourning for deceased former presidents. This applies to federal buildings, U.S. embassies, military installations, and vessels. Shorter periods are designated for other deceased officials, such as vice presidents, Supreme Court justices, and members of Congress. Furthermore, flags may be lowered in response to national tragedies or on designated days like Memorial Day. Importantly, state flags are also lowered concurrently, in accordance with the principle that no flag should fly higher than the American flag.
President Biden’s proclamation mandates that flags remain at half-staff for 30 days following President Carter’s death, concluding on January 28th. This means the flags will be at half-staff during the inauguration and the first week of President Trump’s administration. The authority to order flags to half-staff rests with the President, governors, and the mayor of Washington, D.C., as per the U.S. General Services Administration.
Trump’s public comments on social media characterized the situation as Democrats being “giddy” about the half-staffed flags, asserting that “no American can be happy about it.” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded by confirming that President Biden would not reconsider the decision.
While the U.S. Flag Code dictates a 30-day mourning period, it is not legally binding. Therefore, President Trump, upon assuming office, could theoretically order the flags raised. Precedents exist for such actions. In 1973, President Nixon temporarily raised flags lowered for President Johnson to honor returning prisoners of war. Similarly, differing practices have been observed in other situations, such as the handling of flags following Senator John McCain’s death in 2018, where initial decisions were later reversed following public pressure.