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Trump Inauguration

Little-known flag tradition sparks controversy ahead of Trump’s inauguration

Across the country flags will be flown at half-staff for Inauguration Day 2025, drawing criticism from incoming President Donald Trump.

Why are some flags at half-staff?
Fabrizio BenschREUTERS

For the second time, President-elect Donald Trump will be sworn in today on Capitol Hill, Washington DC. This time around Trump’s inauguration will take place indoors at the Capitol amid a freezing Arctic blast that look set to make it the coldest Inauguration Day in 40 years.

The ceremony is also complicated by the recent death of former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29. Whenever a US president dies the flag code dictates that the Stars and Stripes should remain lowered - at half-staff - for 30 days to mark their passing.

Across the country many states are sticking with the tradition and will have flags lowered to honor Carter. However elsewhere, Republican-led bodies have opted to dispense with the custom. In Washington, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the Capitol buildings will mark Trump’s return to office by returning the flags to full-staff for the day.

“On January 20th, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump,” Johnson confirmed last week. “The flags will be lowered back to half-staff the following day to continue honoring President Jimmy Carter.”

That move has been mirrored in a number of GOP-led states, including Iowa, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, North Dakota, Nebraska and Alabama.

Trump: Democrats don’t love our country

All buildings around the Capitol will fly the flag at full-staff for the day to mark Trump’s inauguration. However the incoming President is unhappy that other states are not opting to follow that lead.

Writing on Truth Social he claimed that Democrats across the country would be “giddy” to see the “magnificent American Flag” flown at half-staff.

“They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our Country, they only think about themselves,” Trump wrote. “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out.”

His views were echoed by Republicans across the country, who came out in support of the decision to curtail the period of mourning. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has announced that flags in his state will be flown at full-staff for the day.

“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,” said Abbott in announcing the news.

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