Actually, Donald Trump could finally appear conciliatory at his second inauguration. But the new US president is already dividing people with an artificially instigated discussion about the American flag.
The blue suit, the white shirt and the red tie – how much Donald Trump must have taken the American flag to his heart can be seen from his clothes. Photographers repeatedly photograph the 1.90 meter man hugging the “Stars and Stripes” and caressing them with kisses. And so it was not surprising that a measure hit him in a sore spot.
Two weeks ago, Trump wrote angrily on his Truth Social platform: “Democrats are thrilled that our magnificent American flag may be flown at half-mast during my inauguration.” They think it’s so great and are so happy about it, Trump continued, “because in reality they don’t love our country, they only think about themselves.”
Background to Trump’s attack against his political opponent: There is currently a national period of mourning in the USA on the occasion of the death of former President Jimmy Carter on December 29, 2024. President Joe Biden, who is still in office, therefore ordered that US flags be flown at half-mast for a total of 30 days – a mourning flag that is common after the death of former presidents.
This means the mourning period coincides with Trump’s upcoming inauguration on January 20, 2025. And because the 47th President complained about this immediately after the death of the 39th President, his party friends are now taking notice and ignoring the traditional procedure.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott was the first to announce that he would fly the flags over the Capitol in Austin and all other state buildings at full mast on Trump’s inauguration day, despite the federal order. However, the Republican’s actions do not violate the measure ordered by Joe Biden. Because this only applies to federal buildings.
A little later, however, Mike Johnson, the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives, followed suit. Johnson announced that the US flags should also be fully flown at the Capitol in Washington on January 20th. “To celebrate our country coming together for the inauguration.” The flags would be lowered again a day later to honor President Carter. It remains an exception, only for Donald Trump.
Mike Johnson’s decision also does not violate Joe Biden’s order. Because it is not the president who is responsible for flying the flag on the Capitol, but rather he as House Speaker. In such cases, however, this usually follows the approach of the White House.
This leads to the strange situation that the US flag will fly at full mast over the Capitol when Trump first takes the oath of office and then gives his speech. But when he meets Joe Biden for a traditional cup of tea in the White House, the “Stars and Stripes” will only fly halfway up.
It seems, however, that it is Donald Trump in particular who is creating a perceived dilemma between appropriately honoring a deceased president and his own inauguration celebrations as the new president. From a historical perspective, there is already a precedent for such situations: at the second inauguration of former President Richard Nixon in 1973, the flags remained at half-mast. Because at that point it was the mourning period for the late Harry S. Truman.