Donald Trump Upset Flags Will Fly at Half-Staff to Honor Jimmy Carter During His Inauguration: 'Nobody Wants to See This'

Mar. 15, 2025

Donald Trump; Jimmy Carter.Photo:Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty, Jessica McGowan/Getty

Donald Trump, Jimmy Carter

Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty, Jessica McGowan/Getty

Donald Trumpis not happy that United States flagswill still be at half-staffin honor ofJimmy Carterwhen he is inaugurated later this month.

Expressing his opinion about the gesture honoring the former president, whodiedon Dec. 29 at 100, Trump, 78, shared a post onTruth Socialon Friday, Jan. 3, writing that “nobody wants to see this."

“The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at ‘half mast’ during my Inauguration,” the president-elect continued. “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!”

“In any event,” he continued, “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!”

Donald Trump.Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Donald Trump

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Trump’s claim that his Jan. 20 inauguration “may” mark the first time flags have been flown at half-mast during a presidential inauguration is untrue — as it actually happened for the first time over 50 years ago atRichard Nixon’s second inauguration.

As Nixon took office in 1973, all flags on the Capitol were at half‐staff in memory of former President Harry S. Truman, who died the previous December, according toThe New York Times.

Trump’s post about the gesture honoring Carter, who was the first U.S. president to live to 100, comes after the president-elect — who haspreviously publicly mocked the 39th president— said heplans to attend his funeral.

At a New Year’s Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago club on Dec. 31, Trump told reporters that he had been invited to Carter’s funeral and will “be there.”

Flags flew at half-staff to honor late President Harry S. Truman at Richard Nixon’s second inauguration.AP Photo

The east side of the Capitol Building is the setting today as President Richard Nixon is sworn in for a second term in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 1973. The American flag is at half staff to honor the late President Harry S. Truman

AP Photo

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“The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans,” he continued. “For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude.”

Trump then added that he and his wifeMelania Trumpwere “thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers.”

Carter will be remembered at funeral services in Georgia and Washington, D.C. between Jan. 4 and Jan. 9. He will then be buried at his home next to his late wifeRosalynn Carter, whodiedat age 96 in November 2023.

source: people.com