CV NEWS FEED // Monday, Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all American flags on his state’s public buildings to fly full-staff on Jan. 20th, the date President-elect Donald Trump will begin his second term in office.
The governor’s order directly conflicts with an order issued two weeks earlier by outgoing President Joe Biden that all flags be flown half-staff in mourning of the late President Jimmy Carter. Biden’s order remains in effect until Jan. 28th – 30 days after Carter passed away on Dec. 29th.
“Pursuant to federal statute, the U.S. flag should be displayed ‘especially on … Inauguration Day,’” Abbott’s office stated in a Monday press release.
Per the release, Abbott indicated that “Texas continues to mourn with our fellow Americans across the country over the passing of former President Jimmy Carter.”
He noted that in one week “our great nation will celebrate our democratic tradition of transferring power to a new President by inaugurating the 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.”
“As we unite our country and usher in this new era of leadership, I ordered all flags to be raised to full-staff at the Texas Capitol and all state buildings for the inauguration of President Trump,” Abbott declared. “While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead for the United States of America.”
Inauguration Day is a day of celebration for America.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 13, 2025
Today, I ordered flags raised to full-staff at the Texas Capitol & state buildings for President Trump’s inauguration.
While we honor President Carter’s service, we also celebrate an incoming President & our bright future. pic.twitter.com/eEqsVMKUCl
The New York Post pointed out that Jan. 20th will mark “the first time American flags across the nation have flown at half-staff during a presidential inauguration.”
However, Trump himself could immediately “order the flags to be raised upon taking office” next Monday, the Post noted.
Trump reacted to the unprecedented situation in a TRUTH Social post earlier this month, writing “Let’s see how it plays out.”
“Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it,” he emphasized at the time.
Biden ordered in a proclamation issued Dec. 30th, the day after Carter’s passing, “I … do hereby direct that the flag of the United States be displayed at half-staff at the White House and on all public buildings and grounds … for a period of 30 days from the day of [Carter’s] death.”
CBS affiliate KFMB reported: “The U.S. flag code lays out parameters for lowering the U.S. flag to half-staff, including a 30-day period for current or former presidents,” who have passed away.
“Flags can be lowered to commemorate the deaths of other officials, including the vice president, Supreme Court justices and members of Congress, although those periods aren’t as long,” KFMB added.
The media outlet specified “that only the president, a governor and the mayor of the District of Columbia can order U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff.”