Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott flouted federal orders Monday and announced that flags in the Lone Star State will be flown at full-staff for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration next week.
Abbott’s declaration comes two weeks after President Biden ordered flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days to honor former President Jimmy Carter, who died at the age of 100 on Dec. 29.
“Today, I ordered flags raised to full-staff at the Texas Capitol & state buildings for President Trump’s inauguration,” Abbott wrote on X. “While we honor President Carter’s service, we also celebrate an incoming President & our bright future.”
In a lengthier statement, Abbott argued that the US flag should be displayed “especially on… Inauguration Day, January 20.”
Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president falls within the 30-day mourning period, which is due to end Jan. 28.
It will be the first time American flags across the nation have flown at half-staff during a presidential inauguration.
Trump, 78, could order the flags to be raised upon taking office at noon on Jan. 20.
In a post to his Truth Social on Jan. 3, Trump called out Democrats and liberals for being “giddy” about Biden’s declaration
“They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our Country, they only think about themselves. Look at what they’ve done to our once GREAT America over the past four years — It’s a total mess!” Trump wrote.
“In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast,” he continued.
“Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out.”
Trump and the other four living current and former presidents — Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Biden — gathered Thursday to honor Carter at a state funeral at Washington National Cathedral.
Following the service, Carter’s remains were returned to his hometown of Plains, Ga., where he was buried on the grounds of his longtime residence next to his late wife, Rosalynn.
