Capitol Flags to Fly Full-Staff on Inauguration Day After Speaker Johnson’s Order
House Speaker Mike Johnson has ordered that flags at the US Capitol be raised to their full height on Inauguration Day, temporarily halting the 30-day flag-lowering order in place following the death of former President Jimmy Carter, The Associated Press reports.
This decision ensures that President-elect Donald Trump will not be sworn in under a half-staff flag, a scenario he had previously voiced strong objections to.
Johnson’s action mirrors a recent trend among some Republican governors who have also announced that flags in their states will be raised on Inauguration Day to mark Trump’s second term. Governors including Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, Ron DeSantis of Florida, Kay Ivey of Alabama, Bill Lee of Tennessee, and Kim Reynolds of Iowa, all made similar announcements on Tuesday. These states will return flags to half-staff on January 21 to continue honoring the late President Carter. Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a similar notice on Monday.
The original 30-day flag-lowering period, implemented by President Joe Biden’s order, covers flags at all federal government buildings, US embassies, military installations, and vessels. This period was slated to run through January 28, encompassing Trump’s inauguration and first week in office.
President-elect Trump has expressed considerable frustration that flags would be lowered on his inauguration day. He has the power to order a complete reversal of the flag order once in office on January 20.
“Democrats are all ‘giddy’” at the prospect of lowered flags on Inauguration Day, Trump wrote on social media earlier this month, claiming “nobody wants to see this.” He added, “no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump has already taken personal action regarding the flag order at his private Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. A large US flag at the location was observed flying at full height despite a flag-lowering order from Florida Governor DeSantis, which mirrored Biden’s national order. As of Tuesday, DeSantis had not altered the flag order for the rest of the state.
The US flag code mandates a 30-day period of lowered flags for current and former presidents, encompassing federal buildings, embassies, and military installations.
