Inauguration Day 2025: President-elect Donald Trump frustrated flags will fly at half-staff to honor Jimmy Carter
Share and Follow

President-elect Donald Trump has expressed frustration that flags will be flying at half-staff when he takes office later this month.

It’s an action put in place by President Joe Biden to honor the late President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at 100. It’s not a timeline that Trump can do anything about – until after he takes office.

Here’s what to know about why flags are lowered when a president dies, who can issue that order and how long the process lasts:

Why are U.S. flags being flown at half-staff?

On Sunday, Biden ordered that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff in honor of the late former president. It’s an honor that indicates that the country or a state is in mourning.

The U.S. flag code lays out parameters for lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff, including a 30-day period for current or former presidents to cover flags at federal government buildings and their grounds, as well as at U.S. embassies and other facilities abroad, including military installations and vessels.

Flags can be lowered to commemorate the deaths of other officials, including the vice president, Supreme Court justices and members of Congress, although those periods aren’t as long.

Flags can also be ordered lowered in other circumstances, including a national tragedy or on Memorial Day.

Since U.S. flag code states that no flag should fly higher than the American flag on the same pole or nearby, state flags get lowered during those periods, too.

How long will flags be lowered?

According to Biden’s proclamation, U.S. flags will be lowered for 30 days from Carter’s death, until Jan. 28.

With the inauguration on Jan. 20, that means that flags will be at half-staff when Trump takes office and for the first week of his administration.

Who decides when to lower flags?

According to the U.S. General Services Administration, the president, a governor and the mayor of the District of Columbia can order U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff.

What has Trump said about flags being lowered?

On Friday, Trump posted on social media that “Democrats are all ‘giddy'” about the notion that flags will be lowered when he takes office as president.

“Nobody wants to see this,” Trump wrote. He added that “no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Asked about Trump’s post at Friday’s briefing, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden would not consider reversing or reevaluating the half-staff plans.

Can Trump decide to raise the flags?

Yes. U.S. flag code dictates that flags remain lowered for the 30-day period from the death of a former president. But that code isn’t mandatory, so once he becomes president, Trump could technically override it.

That’s what happened in February 1973, when then-President Richard Nixon opted to raise flags – which he had ordered lowered in mourning following the death of former President Lyndon Johnson – before the 30-day mark to honor the first American prisoners of war released from Vietnam. The hiatus only lasted a day, and flags went back to half-staff thereafter for eight days.

Flags had also been at half-staff when Nixon was sworn in for his second term in January 1973, due to Nixon having ordered them lowered after the death of former President Harry S. Truman.

Has Trump taken issue with lowering flags before?

Yes. After the death of Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain – with whom Trump had a fractious relationship – in 2018, the Stars and Stripes were briefly lowered to half-staff over the weekend but went back up to full height the following Monday, while flags at the U.S. Capitol and elsewhere stayed at half-staff.

The flag was lowered again to half-staff after complaints from people in both the Republican and Democratic parties. Former presidents spoke at McCain’s funeral, but the senator’s family made clear they did not want Trump to attend.

Copyright © 2025 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Oscar-nominated actress looks UNRECOGNIZABLE as 'old man' on SNL

Oscar-Nominated Actress Transforms Dramatically into ‘Old Man’ for SNL Appearance

An acclaimed actress, once nominated for an Oscar, was nearly unrecognizable as…
EXCLUSIVE: 'Zootopia 2' deleted scene reveals different look at Nick and Judy, ahead of the movie's digital and DVD release

Unveiled: Alternate Nick and Judy Scene in ‘Zootopia 2’ Sparks Fan Excitement Before Digital Release

Family movie nights are about to get a lot more exciting with…
Lindsey Graham says 'strong consensus' to protect Kurds as Syrian forces advance on territory

Lindsey Graham Asserts a ‘Strong Consensus’ to Safeguard Kurds Amid Syrian Forces’ Territorial Advancements

Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and former Secretary of State Mike…
Boy, 12, dies following shark attack while swimming at popular cliff-jumping spot: 'We are heartbroken'

Tragic Shark Encounter Claims Life of 12-Year-Old at Renowned Cliff-Jumping Location: Community Mourns

A tragic incident has struck Sydney Harbor as a young boy, only…
Police widows group to give scholarship to kids of fallen NYPD officer

Police Widows’ Organization Offers Scholarships to Support Children of Fallen NYPD Officers

Alex Maddox once believed her high school romance would last a lifetime,…
Trump posts 'loaded gun' image after federal agent kills man, 37

Trump Shares Provocative Image Following Fatal Shooting by Federal Agent

On Saturday, Donald Trump posted an image of what he claimed to…
Top conservatives blast MAGA for saying DHS shooting was justified

Conservative Leaders Condemn MAGA’s Justification of DHS Shooting: A Deepening Divide

Key figures from the MAGA movement have come under fire from fellow…
Baltimore bloodshed drops as law-and-order push targets repeat criminals

Baltimore’s Crime Reduction Efforts Lead to Decrease in Repeat Offender Violence

Baltimore experienced a significant reduction in homicides in 2025, building on a…