Flags will be raised for Trump inauguration, despite half-masting order for Carter’s death: NPR

Flags will fly at full staff on Jan. 20 for Donald Trump’s inauguration as president, despite President Biden’s order to lower flags at half-staff in memory of the late President Jimmy Carter.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, announced the decision to fly the flags at full strength in a post on behind the inauguration of our 47th president, Donald Trump.”

The flags will be lowered to half-mast the following day to continue to honor President Jimmy Carter. »

Carter, who was beloved by many during his post-presidency, died at the age of 100 on December 29 last year, making him the longest-serving president in American history. As is tradition after the death of a president, Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on federal property for 30 days, which would coincide with the president-elect’s inauguration.

Trump, however, accused Democrats were “stunned” that the flag would not be flown at full height during the swearing-in ceremony.

“Democrats are all ‘stunned’ at the idea of ​​our beautiful American flag potentially being flown at half-mast during my inauguration,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “They think it’s great and are very happy about it because in reality, they don’t love our country, they only think about themselves.

“In any case, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the flag could, for the first time at the inauguration of a future president, be flown at half-mast. No one wants to see that, and no American can be happy about it.

Trump’s request marks a break with tradition. When President Nixon was inaugurated in 1973, flags on the Capitol building were lowered to half-staff in honor of former President Harry Truman, who died on December 26.