Updated Jan 14, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Flags to fly at full-staff for inauguration after Trump's complaints

April Rubin

About a dozen American flags are seen at half staff in front of the U.S. Capitol dome. The sky and clouds behind have a yellow tint. — U.S. flags on the National Mall fly at half-staff at daybreak on Dec. 30 with the U.S. Capitol in the background in honor of the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. Photo: J. David Ake/Getty Images

Flags at the U.S. Capitol will fly at full-staff during President-elect Trump's inauguration despite President Biden's directive that they remain at half-staff through January to honor former President Carter's death.

Why it matters: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and some Republican governors are promising to fly flags at full-staff Monday after Trump repeatedly complained about them being lowered for his swearing in.

Driving the news: Johnson announced Tuesday that flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff for the inauguration and then return to half-staff the next day in honor of Carter.

Zoom out: An increasing number of Republican governors have ordered that flags at state buildings be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day.

These include Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Some cited a federal statute that calls for the flag to be displayed 24 hours a day on certain occasions for "patriotic effect," instead of from sunrise to sunset.
"While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead for the United States of America," Abbott's announcement said.

Between the lines: Flags at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club returned to full-staff days after Carter was buried in Plains, Georgia, AP reported.

Trump took to Truth Social in early January to complain: "The Democrats are all 'giddy' about our magnificent American flag potentially being at 'half mast' during my inauguration," he wrote, incorrectly using the term to refer to a flag on a ship.
"Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it," he added. "Let's see how it plays out."

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Editor's note: This story was updated with additional states that have said their flags will be full-staff on Inauguration Day.

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Flags to fly at full-staff for inauguration after Trump's complaints

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