Donald Trump, the president-elect, has complained that when he takes office later this month, the flag will be flying at half-staff.
President Joe Biden instituted this measure in remembrance of the late President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100. Trump won’t be able to change the timeframe until after he assumes office.
Here are some facts on the purpose of flag lowering upon the death of a president, the authority to do so, and the duration of the procedure:
Why are American flags flying at half-staff?
Biden commanded that American flags be flown at half-staff on Sunday in remembrance of the deceased former president. It is an accolade that signifies a state or nation in mourning.
Current or former presidents have 30 days to cover flags at federal government buildings and their grounds, as well as at U.S. embassies and other facilities overseas, including military installations and vessels, according to the U.S. flag code, which specifies guidelines for lowering the flag to half-staff.
Although those times aren’t as long, flags can be lowered to honor the passing of other public figures, such as the vice president, justices of the Supreme Court, and members of Congress.
In other situations, such as during a national disaster or on Memorial Day, flags may also be commanded to be lowered.
State flags are also lowered during those times since the U.S. flag code prohibits any flag from flying higher than the American flag on the same pole or close by.
For what duration will the flags be lowered?
Biden’s decree states that American flags will be lowered for 30 days, until January 28, following Carter’s passing.
This implies that flags will be at half-staff during Trump’s inauguration on January 20 and for the first week of his administration.
Who makes the flag-lowering decisions?
The president, a governor, and the mayor of the District of Columbia have the authority to order the flying of the American flag at half-staff, according to the U.S. General Services Administration.
Regarding the lowering of flags, what has Trump said?
Trump wrote on social media on Friday that Democrats are ecstatic about the idea of flags being lowered when he becomes president.
Trump wrote, “Nobody wants to see this.” “No American can be happy about it,” he added. Let’s see what happens. RESTORE AMERICA’S GREATNESS!
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded that Biden would not think about reversing or reevaluating the half-staff intentions when asked about Trump’s post at Friday’s briefing.
Does Trump have the authority to raise the flags?
Indeed. According to the U.S. flag code, flags must be lowered for 30 days following the passing of a former president. However, since that code is optional, Trump could theoretically disregard it if elected president.
That’s what happened in February 1973 when then-President Richard Nixon decided to celebrate the first American prisoners of war returned from Vietnam by raising flags that he had ordered lowered in sorrow after previous President Lyndon Johnson passed away before the 30-day mark. Flags returned to half-staff for eight days after the one-day hiatus ended.
Additionally, Nixon had ordered the flags to be lowered following the passing of former President Harry S. Truman, so they were at half-staff when he took office for a second term in January 1973.
Has Trump previously criticized flag lowering?
Indeed. Flags at the U.S. Capitol and other locations remained at half-staff following the death of Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain, with whom Trump had a tense relationship in 2018. The Stars and Stripes were briefly lowered to half-staff over the weekend but returned to full height the following Monday.
Following concerns from both Democrats and Republicans, the flag was lowered to half-staff once more. The senator’s family made it clear that they did not want Trump to attend the funeral, even when former presidents spoke.
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