President-elect Donald Trump has expressed frustration that flags shall be flying at half-staff when he takes workplace later this month.
It is an motion put in place by President Joe Biden to honor the late President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at 100. It isn’t a timeline that Trump can do something about — till after he takes workplace.
Here is what to learn about why flags are lowered when a president dies, who can difficulty that order and the way lengthy the method lasts:
Why are U.S. flags being flown at half-staff?
On Sunday, Biden ordered that U.S. flags be flown at half-staff in honor of the late former president. It is an honor that signifies that the nation or a state is in mourning.
The U.S. flag code lays out parameters for reducing the U.S. flag to half-staff, together with a 30-day interval for present or former presidents to cowl flags at federal authorities buildings and their grounds, in addition to at U.S. embassies and different services overseas, together with army installations and vessels.
Flags may be lowered to commemorate the deaths of different officers, together with the vp, Supreme Court docket justices and members of Congress, though these durations aren’t as lengthy.
Flags will also be ordered lowered in different circumstances, together with a nationwide tragedy or on Memorial Day.
Since U.S. flag code states that no flag ought to fly larger than the American flag on the identical pole or close by, state flags get lowered throughout these durations, too.
How lengthy will flags be lowered?
In keeping with Biden’s proclamation, U.S. flags shall be lowered for 30 days from Carter’s dying, till Jan. 28.
With the inauguration on Jan. 20, that implies that flags shall be at half-staff when Trump takes workplace and for the primary week of his administration.
Who decides when to decrease flags?
In keeping with the U.S. Normal Companies Administration, the president, a governor and the mayor of the District of Columbia can order U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff.
What has Trump stated about flags being lowered?
On Friday, Trump posted on social media that “Democrats are all ‘giddy’” in regards to the notion that flags shall be lowered when he takes workplace as president.
“No person needs to see this,” Trump wrote. He added that “no American may be glad about it. Let’s see the way it performs out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Requested about Trump’s publish at Friday’s briefing, White Home press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated Biden wouldn’t think about reversing or reevaluating the half-staff plans.
Can Trump determine to boost the flags?
Sure. U.S. flag code dictates that flags stay lowered for the 30-day interval from the dying of a former president. However that code is not necessary, so as soon as he turns into president, Trump may technically override it.
That is what occurred in 1973, when then-President Richard Nixon opted to boost flags — which he had ordered lowered in mourning following the dying of former President Lyndon Johnson — earlier than the 30-day mark to honor the primary American prisoners of warfare launched from Vietnam. Flags had been at half-staff when Nixon was sworn in for his second time period throughout that very same timeframe.
The hiatus solely lasted a day, and flags went again to half-staff thereafter for eight days.
Has Trump taken difficulty with reducing flags earlier than?
Sure. After the dying of Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain — with whom Trump had a fractious relationship — in 2018, the Stars and Stripes had been briefly lowered to half-staff over the weekend however went again as much as full top the following Monday, whereas flags on the U.S. Capitol and elsewhere stayed at half-staff.
The flag was lowered once more to half-staff after complaints from individuals in each the Republican and Democratic events. Former presidents spoke at McCain’s funeral, however the senator’s household made clear they didn’t need Trump to attend.
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Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina, and may be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP
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