On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that the banners at the US Capitol, which are already half-staff in honor of former US President Jimmy Carter, may be partially raised on January 20 to tag Donald Trump’s next term.
” On January 20th, the banners at the Capitol does fly at full-staff to honor our nation coming together behind the commencement of our 47th President, Donald Trump”, Johnson stated.
The choice defies President Joe Biden’s statement of a 30-day mourning phase for Carter, who passed away on December 29 at the age of 100. According to Johnson, the colors will return to half-staff the day after the opening, continuing the gift to Carter until January 28, as per US flag script.
Trump had openly criticised the promise of lower flags at his inauguration, calling it extraordinary and accusing Democrats of enjoying the occasion. However, a review from the New York Times notes that generally, if it falls during the day of the mourning, colors flow at half-staff during an opening. President Richard Nixon’s 1973 meeting occurred under equivalent conditions, following President Harry Truman’s death.
However, Trump’s Mar-a-Lago property in Florida raised its banners soon after Carter’s death, ignoring state directives to preserve them lowered.
Trump earlier this month wrote on his social media platform Truth Social,” No American can be content about this.”
It echoes the steps some Democratic governors have recently taken, according to The Associated Press. For Inauguration Day, Texas’s government Greg Abbott and Florida’s government Ron DeSantis made the announcement that both their governors would raise their state colors.
” While we honour the services of a former leader, we may also observe the support of an approaching leader”, Abbott stated. DeSantis echoed this mood, citing the day’s nationalist value.
Colors are affected by the order at US diplomats and other locations worldwide, including military deployments and vessels, as well as at provincial government structures and their grounds.
But, the White House confirmed there would be no changes to Biden’s initial purchase. The 30-day mourning period will continue to be in effect at provincial services, according to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
