Speaker of the US House of Representatives Mike Johnson on Tuesday ordered flags at the Capitol to be flown to their full height on Inauguration Day, halting a 30-day order to lower flags following the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
The Republican leader’s decision means President-elect Donald Trump will not be sworn in for his second term at half-staff, a prospect he had previously complained about.
This mirrors actions taken in recent days by some Republican governors who have announced that flags in their states will be lowered to the ground on Inauguration Day to mark Trump’s second term.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said in social media posts Tuesday that American flags in their states would be lowered to half-staff on Jan. 21 in Carter’s honor. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a similar notice on Monday.
The 30-day flag-lowering period, initiated with President Joe Biden’s order, affects flags at federal government buildings and their grounds, as well as at U.S. embassies and other facilities abroad, including military installations and ships. It runs through January 28, including Trump’s inauguration and first week in office. In line with Biden’s order, governors across the country issued their own orders to control flags in their states.
The incoming president has expressed concerns that flags will still remain at half-staff when he is sworn in, and it’s possible he could order an overall reversal of Biden’s decision once he is installed as president on January 20.
“Democrats are troubled by the notion that flags will be lowered on Inauguration Day,” Trump wrote on social media on January 3.
“No one wants to see this,” Trump wrote. He said that “No American could be happy with this. Let’s see what the outcome is. Make America Great Again!”
Trump has already taken action on flags he can control: at his home in Florida. In the days following Carter’s burial, a large American flag was seen flying at its full height at Trump’s private Mar-a-Lago club, mirroring Biden’s, despite orders from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
As of Tuesday, DeSantis had not made any changes to the flag order in his state.
The U.S. Flag Code sets out criteria for flying the U.S. flag at half-staff, including a 30-day period for current or former presidents to lower flags at federal government buildings and their grounds, as well as at U.S. embassies and other facilities abroad. Is. Which includes military establishments and ships.
