WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. flags will be flown at half-staff during Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration on January 20, 2025, as part of a national period of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024. The decision, made by President Joe Biden, follows federal protocol, which mandates that flags be lowered for 30 days following the death of a former president.
While some have speculated that this is an unprecedented occurrence for a presidential inauguration, historical records show otherwise. In 1973, flags were similarly flown at half-staff during President Richard Nixon’s second inauguration following the death of former President Harry S. Truman on December 26, 1972. Nixon ordered flags lowered nationwide to honor Truman, and the period of mourning overlapped with his January 20 inauguration.
President Biden’s directive to lower flags for Carter mirrors longstanding traditions meant to honor deceased presidents, with no intent to coincide with Trump’s swearing-in. Nevertheless, the overlap has sparked public and political discussions, with Trump suggesting on social media that the situation reflects poorly on his political opponents. “In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast,” Trump said in a recent post, inaccurately claiming such a scenario to be unprecedented.
Carter, the 39th president of the United States, served from 1977 to 1981 and was widely recognized for his humanitarian work after leaving office. His death at age 100 prompted an outpouring of tributes, and Biden’s decision to lower flags aligns with federal practices for honoring deceased presidents.
Despite the attention surrounding the flag protocol, presidential inaugurations have historically occurred alongside larger national or global events, including moments of mourning.
