(NEXSTAR) — In the wake of the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, President Donald Trump has called for U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff, honoring the late senator, a trusted ally and personal friend.
According to a statement from Graham’s office, the 71-year-old senator passed away on Saturday night. Preliminary medical reports attribute his death to a rupture in his aorta.
In his heartfelt remarks on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump shared his profound loss, referring to Graham as “like a member of the family.” The former president recalled speaking with Graham on Saturday night after Graham had returned from Ukraine. Despite sounding “a little bit tired,” Trump noted that Graham otherwise seemed in good health.
As a tribute to Graham’s extraordinary life and contributions, Trump announced on Sunday that he instructed that “all American Flags throughout the United States” be lowered to half-mast. This gesture will remain in place until 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 18, as a mark of respect.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs articulates that flying flags at half-staff is a solemn tradition reserved for moments when the nation collectively mourns.
A politician’s level of seniority impacts how long the flag typically flies at half staff. The longest possible period is 30 days, reserved for the death of a sitting or former president. We last saw this following the death of President Jimmy Carter in 2024.
For the sitting vice president, chief justice (current or retired) of the Supreme Court, or the sitting speaker of the house die, flags would be ordered to half-staff for 10 days from the day of death. For other officials – associate justices of the Supreme Court; a Cabinet member; a former vice president; the president pro tempore of the Senate; and majority and minority leaders of the House and Senate – flags are to fly at half-staff from the day of death until interment.
In April 2025, flags flew at half-staff for several days following the death of Pope Francis.
Per U.S. Code, when U.S. flags are to fly at half-staff, you should first hoist it “to the peak for an instant and then [lower it] to the half-staff position.” Before it is lowered for the day, it “should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day.”