American Flag Sitting Atop of the White House Lowered to Half-Staff Following Trump's Inauguration

Mar. 15, 2025

The American flag above the White House has been lowered once again after theinaugurationof PresidentDonald Trumpon Monday, Jan. 20.

Despite the order from Biden, 82, both Republican House SpeakerMike Johnsonand now-President Trump, 78, fought to have the flags raised for the inauguration, which fell within the 30-day mourning period.

Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson, Donald Trump.Michael M. Santiago/Getty; ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Michael M. Santiago/Getty; ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

“The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at ‘half mast’ during my Inauguration,” Trump wrote onTruth Socialon Jan. 3. “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!”

He added, “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. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.

Trump’s post, which falsely claimed that flags “may” fly at half-staff for the first time ever during a president’s inauguration — despite flags having been lowered for the death of President Harry S. Truman duringRichard Nixon’s second inauguration — prompted a response from Johnson, 52, on Jan. 14. The house speaker, who oversees flag protocol at the Capitol, announced that he would ensure flags were raised on Jan. 20.

Though the flag code is part of the law, there is no punishment for breaking its guidelines.

Half staff to honor the late President Harry S. Truman as President Richard Nixon is sworn in for a second term.AP Photo

AP Photo

Per the AP, “Trump’s order said flags would be lowered again after his inauguration and continue flying at half-staff through Jan. 28, or the end of the mourning period for Carter.” As of Tuesday, the flag above the White House had been lowered, the outlet confirmed.

source: people.com