Prior to his, Donald Trump’s, inauguration on January 20, 2025 the decision to keep the US flags at half mast was frowned at. The directive which was signed by President Joe Biden commemorates the last former president Jimmy Carter who died on December 29, 2024. National symbols will stay halfway in mourning for one month until the end of an ex-president’s funeral since the flags would have been on half mast according to HT.
Trump was also issues with the progression of flags during his inauguration saying his preference was not for flags to be at half mast. Trump complained: “Nobody wants to see this” and accused the Democrats of being happy with sad images. He condemned their system of management saying it was messed up completely.
The white house stressed that the action was taken to commemorate carter not as a way of taking back power. Carter is the 39th President of the United States, who passed away on November 25, 2025, will be held state funeral on the January 9, 2025. President Biden also called on people to go worship to pay their respects.
Trump was a staunch republican while Carter was a democrat, but Trump decided to attend six days Carter funeral services. Trump, however, noted that acknowledging Carter’s commitment to the nation, though the two did not see eye to eye politically: “He may have been one of the reasons that leftists despised me but, in any case, he loved this nation fiercely.”
Later, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that the order to lower the flag would remain unchanged. Before his inauguration, Trump hinted at possible changes, but no such move has been made.
The flags will be lowered to half-staff until January 29, 2025, in Carter’s memory. However the controversy on this decision’s political and ceremonial consequences goes on, and it rises discussions as Trump’s swearing in gets nearer.
