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House Speaker Mike Johnson announced Tuesday that U.S. Capitol flags will be raised to full height on Inauguration Day, temporarily suspending a 30-day flag-lowering order issued after the death of former President Jimmy Carter.
This move ensures President-elect Donald Trump’s second-term swearing-in will occur under fully raised flags, addressing concerns Trump previously expressed.
Johnson’s decision aligns with actions taken by several Republican governors, including North Dakota’s Kelly Armstrong, Florida’s Ron DeSantis, Alabama’s Kay Ivey, Tennessee’s Bill Lee, and Iowa’s Kim Reynolds.
These governors announced flags in their states would also be raised on Jan. 20 to honor Trump’s inauguration but would be relowered on Jan. 21 to resume the mourning period for Carter. Texas Governor Greg Abbott made a similar announcement earlier this week.
The flag-lowering period, ordered by President Joe Biden, spans 30 days and applies to federal buildings, U.S. embassies, and military installations, concluding on Jan. 28.
Governors across the country issued their own orders to comply with Biden’s directive. However, Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with the timing of the flag-lowering order coinciding with his inauguration.
“Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about flags being lowered on Inauguration Day,” Trump wrote on social media on Jan. 3. “Nobody wants to see this. No American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Trump has already acted where he has control. At his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, the U.S. flag has been flying at full height, despite Florida’s adherence to Biden’s flag-lowering order. Governor DeSantis has yet to modify the state’s flag policy as of Tuesday.
The U.S. Flag Code mandates that flags be lowered to half-staff for 30 days to honor deceased presidents. The period applies to flags at federal buildings, embassies, military installations, and vessels.
While Biden’s directive remains in place for federal properties, Trump may choose to rescind it after assuming office on Jan. 20, ensuring his inauguration takes place under fully raised flags.
This debate over flag protocol underscores the political divisions accompanying Trump’s return to the presidency, with both Republican leaders and the president-elect asserting their authority to shape ceremonial traditions.
