Washington – Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson said on Tuesday that the flags at the Capitol will fly at full capacity during President-elect Donald Trump’s rally. inauguration next week.
“On January 20, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump,” the Louisiana Republican said in a statement. “The following day, flags will be lowered again to half-staff to continue to honor President Jimmy Carter.”
According to the American flag code, President Biden ordered flags will be reduced until the end of January out of respect for the previous one President Jimmy CarterWHO died on December 29 at the age of 100. The code says that after the death of a president or former president, the U.S. flag must be flown at half-staff for 30 days in all federal government buildings and grounds, including U.S. embassies and military facilities abroad.
Trump claimed Democrats were “giddy” that the period of mourning would overlap with his inauguration.
“No one wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it turns out,” he wrote on January 3.
In a letter last week, GOP Rep. Cory Mills of Florida urged Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, to raise the flags for the inauguration, saying that Congress “ has unquestionable control over the Capitol.”
“This inauguration is a celebration of a new administration and a transition of power,” Mills said. “I believe most Americans would prefer to avoid an event where their new president is sworn in while the flags are currently lowered.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Monday ordered flags on state property to be flown with full staff for Trump’s inauguration.
“While we honor the service of a former president, we must also celebrate the service of a new president and the bright future for the United States of America,” Abbott’s statement said in part.
