Staff Reports
House Speaker Mike Johnson has made a bold move by ordering the flags at the U.S. Capitol to be raised to full height for Inauguration Day, effectively pausing the 30-day flag-lowering mandate initiated following the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. This decision is a refreshing nod to tradition and respect, especially since it means President-elect Donald Trump will take the oath of office without the shadow of a half-staff flag looming over him—a scenario he has previously bemoaned.
As if on cue, several Republican governors are also getting in on the action, raising flags in their states to honor Trump’s second term. North Dakota, Florida, Alabama, and Tennessee are all in agreement, announcing that flags will be at full height for the inauguration. Of course, they also plan to lower them again on January 21 as a tribute to Carter, but for that brief moment on Inauguration Day, it’s all about Trump, baby. Texas Governor Greg Abbott joined the ranks with a similar declaration, showing that the Lone Star State is on board as well.
🚨NEW: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson has ordered all flags to be raised to full-staff at the U.S. Capitol due to Trump's inauguration in a major sign of disrespect to President Carter and his family.
RETWEET if you think @SpeakerJohnson is a disgrace! pic.twitter.com/2lso45wZ0n
— Protect Kamala Harris ✊ (@DisavowTrump20) January 14, 2025
The original 30-day flag-lowering directive, put forth by President Biden, specifically impacts flags at federal buildings, embassies, and military installations both at home and overseas. This mandate spans all the way to January 28, which conveniently runs through Trump’s inauguration and the kick-off of his first week back in power. It seems like Democrats were eager to wave half-staff flags in the hopes of giving the inauguration a dark cloud, but Johnson has turned that frown upside down.
Trump has expressed his dissatisfaction over the idea of flags being lowered during his swearing-in, and there’s a strong possibility he might just reverse Biden’s order once he reclaims the Oval Office. The former president isn’t shy about his feelings either; he’s been vocal about the absurdity of lowering flags in this context. Who knew that such patriotism could ruffle so many liberal feathers?
Meanwhile, Trump has taken matters into his own hands down at Mar-a-Lago. Despite DeSantis’ order to lower flags in Florida, Trump’s estate proudly flaunted a full-height U.S. flag. It seems that even in the face of opposition, Trump is unapologetically asserting his own brand of patriotism, much to the chagrin of the flag-lowering brigade.
As Inauguration Day approaches, it’s clear that there’s a growing divide between the way Republicans and Democrats approach the importance of American symbolism. While Democrats may revel in the melancholy of lowering flags because of a former president’s passing, Republicans are eagerly anticipating the return of a president who embodies optimism and strength. After all, for every flag that droops, there are countless Americans ready to stand tall—and it’s hard to ignore that patriotic spirit when Trump returns to reclaim the spotlight.
