This is so unfair to Donald Trump and Republicans.
On Friday, President-elect Donald Trump expressed his frustration over the U.S. flag being flown at half-mast during his 2025 Inauguration. This move came after President Joe Biden ordered the flag to be lowered in honor of the late President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024.
Biden’s executive order mandated that flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days across all federal buildings and military sites as a tribute to Carter’s legacy. The proclamation, which will remain in effect until January 28, 2025, applies nationwide and includes government structures and naval vessels.
Trump, however, was outspoken about how the situation played out. On his Truth Social platform, the incoming president expressed his disapproval of the flag’s half-staff status, calling attention to what he viewed as the Democrats’ glee over the situation. “The left is all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag maybe being at ‘half mast’ during the Inauguration,” he wrote. “They believe it is so great, and are so excited about it because, in reality, they do not love our nation, they only care about themselves.”
Trump lamented that the flag being flown at half-staff on his Inauguration Day signaled a deep divide in the country. “Look at what they’ve done to our once GREAT America over the past four years – It’s a total mess!” he continued. “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out.”
While it is customary for flags to fly at half-staff for 30 days after a former president’s death, Trump’s comments reflect a larger frustration with the state of the nation under the current administration. Despite the controversy surrounding the flag display, Trump did take a moment to offer his condolences to the Carter family.
However, not all of Trump’s supporters were on board with his praise for Carter. Some voiced their criticism, pointing to Carter’s policies that they believe negatively impacted America. One Truth Social user, Theodore Winters, called out the former president for what he considered “terrible” leadership, adding that Carter’s policies, especially regarding inflation, are still being felt today.
In contrast, some more conservative voices reminded others of Carter’s controversial decisions, such as his pardon of Vietnam War draft dodgers, which, in their view, harmed American servicemen.
As Trump prepares for his swearing-in on January 20, 2025, he remains determined to move the country in a new direction. “Make America Great Again!” he concluded. Trump’s reaction to the flag situation highlights the sharp political divide that continues to shape American discourse as he enters the White House for the next chapter in his presidency.