Following the death of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and as the change in administration takes place, a Federal-State defiant dispute takes place between the 46th President Joe Biden and current Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The U.S. Flag Code stipulates strict guidelines for displaying and handling the American flag, including specific protocols for flying the flag at half-staff to honor significant figures and events. When a former president passes away, the Flag Code outlines detailed procedures for mourning their death.
For a former president, the Flag Code mandates that the flag be flown at half-staff for 30 days from the day of death. This period applies to all federal buildings, military facilities, U.S. embassies, and naval vessels.
Additionally, the U.S. Flag Code provides ambiguous guidelines for the proper display and use of the American flag during an inauguration of the presidential administration transition ceremony, however and contrary to what has been stated, this specific case is not endorsed by any detailed or extensive code section.
President Biden made a federal order for U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days, as is customary, to honor former president Jimmy Carter’s death. The conflict is due to the fact that these commemorative days overlap with the President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration date, which definitely interferes with his plans to portray a powerful comeback. Donald Trump’s infamous ego wouldn’t let any circumstances get in the way of a legendary picture of him re-emerging, endorsed by the high on ground U.S. waving flags.
This is not the first occurrence of such contradictory coincidences; in 1973 during former President Richard Nixon’s second inauguration, flags remained at half-staff following the death of President Harry S. Truman.
Members of the GOP, both Trump and Abbott have had a very close relationship during their concurrent last agenda, Abbott has always been largely supportive of Trump’s position, particularly on issues like immigration, border security, and tax reform.
It is evident that Abbott will continue to strongly support Trump’s return to the office, as he has been doing so far, calling for the Lone Star to defy Biden’s orders to create the appearance that Texas’ supports Donald Trump on his inauguration day.
“While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead of the United States of America.As we unite our country and usher in this new era of leadership, I ordered all flags to be raised to full-staff at the Texas Capitol and all state buildings for the inauguration of President Trump,” Abbott stated.
Additionally, other governors are showing discontent with President Biden’s orders; remarkably, not all of them are from the Republican Party.
Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom will temporarily raise the American Flag at the state Capitol to full height on Inauguration Day next week, joining a handful of GOP governors and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson in the decision.
This ongoing dispute appears to have a difficult and challenging management, any position on how to resolve it is merely an interpretation of the U.S. Flag Code.Essentially, meanings and interpretations are shaped by context, authority, and tradition.
Is the U.S. Flag Code open to interpretation based on situational and political contexts? Does the U.S. Flag symbolize the mourning of a president or the celebration of another one? Should U.S. citizens on January 20, 2025 be honoring past leaders or celebrating new ones?
