WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President-elect Donald Trump criticized the decision to keep American flags at half-staff in honor of the late President Jimmy Carter during his Jan. 20 inauguration. President Joe Biden had ordered flags to be lowered for 30 days following Carter’s passing on Dec. 29, a customary practice for a former U.S. president’s death.
In a post on Truth Social on Friday, Trump expressed discontent with the flags remaining in a mourning position during his upcoming swearing-in ceremony. “The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at ‘half mast’ during my Inauguration,” Trump stated, utilizing terminology commonly associated with the lowered flag position aboard a ship. He further alleged that the Democrats’ approval of this decision reflected a lack of genuine patriotism, suggesting that they were more concerned with their personal interests rather than the well-being of the country.
Highlighting that Carter’s recent passing meant the flag would be at half-mast for the first time ever during a future President’s inauguration, Trump emphasized his opposition to the situation. “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out,” he remarked.
However, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre indicated that the White House had no intentions of revising the decision regarding the flag placement for the upcoming inauguration ceremony, despite Trump’s objections.
The former President’s remarks come as he prepares to attend Carter’s memorial service in Washington on Jan. 9. Trump’s reaction to the flag protocol for his inauguration has added to the ongoing discourse surrounding the transition of power and the ceremonies associated with the presidential handover.
(Reporting By Steve Holland; additional reporting by Gabriella Borter; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
