Trump accuses Democrats of being ‘giddy’ as US flags will fly at half-mast during inauguration

The decision has raised tensions with former President Donald Trump, who expressed frustration that flags would be flown at half-staff during his inauguration on January 20. “Nobody wants to see this,” Trump wrote on social media, criticising the situation. “Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that Biden would not reconsider the flag order, which was put in place to honour Carter, as reported by Associated Press (AP).

Under the US flag code, flags are also flown at half-staff to commemorate the deaths of other notable figures, such as vice presidents, Supreme Court justices, and members of Congress, although these periods are shorter.

While the flag order is typically not adjustable, it can be overridden by the president once they are in office. Trump has exercised this power before. In 1973, President Richard Nixon raised the flags before the usual 30-day mourning period was over, to honour the return of American POWs from Vietnam, despite them having been lowered after President Lyndon Johnson’s death.

In previous years, Trump has also faced criticism over his handling of flag protocol. For example, in 2018, following the death of Senator John McCain, the US flag was briefly raised to full height before being lowered again after public backlash.

The flag code remains a symbolic act of national mourning, with the President, governors, and the mayor of Washington, DC holding the authority to order it lowered.

(with inputs from AP)