President-elect Donald Trump has expressed frustration that flags will be flying at half-staff when he takes office later this month.

President-elect Donald Trump has expressed frustration that flags will be flying at half-staff when he takes office later this month.

It’s an action put in place by President Joe Biden to honor the late President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at 100. It’s not a timeline that Trump can do anything about — until after he takes office.

Here’s what to know about why flags are lowered when a president dies, who can issue that order and how long the process lasts:

  • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 ℹ️@yiffit.netEnglish
    133·
    3 days ago

    I know this is tradition, but doesn’t it usually only last a day or two? I don’t know if this is a special case, or I’ve just never seen anyone keeping the flag at half-mast for the traditional length of time.

    From the article it sounds like it’s just set arbitrarily for up to 30 days. I really hope that means Biden set it to the full 30, just to fuck with Trump.

    • sawdustprophet@midwest.socialEnglish
      33·
      3 days ago

      doesn’t it usually only last a day or two?

      From the article:

      U.S. flag code dictates that flags remain lowered for the 30-day period from the death of a former president. But that code isn’t mandatory, so once he becomes president, Trump could technically override it.

      So I gather the answer to your question is “yes, but also no”.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        252·
        3 days ago

        “Could technically” means he will, because he’s a manbaby who must have his way and must have revenge if he doesn’t. Even if the revenge is against a dead man.