Official statements from the Texas Governor's Office or news reports

Abbott Orders Flags at Full Staff for Trump's Inauguration, Defying Biden's Order to Honor Carter

Jan 13, 2025, 06:19 PM

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered all flags at the Texas Capitol and state buildings to be flown at full-staff on January 20, 2025, Inauguration Day, in honor of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, defying President Joe Biden's directive and federal protocol that mandates flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days following the death of former President Jimmy Carter. The 30-day mourning period includes Inauguration Day. Abbott stated that while Texas honors Carter's service, it is important to celebrate the incoming president and the nation's bright future. "Inauguration Day is a day of celebration for America," Abbott said in a statement. "Today, I ordered flags raised to full-staff at the Texas Capitol and state buildings for President Trump’s inauguration. While we honor President Carter’s service, we also celebrate an incoming President and our bright future." Federal law requires flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days following the death of a current or former president. President Biden ordered flags to be flown at half-staff for the mourning period, which includes Inauguration Day. Abbott's decision to override the federal directive marks a notable defiance of federal protocol and has been met with both support and criticism. Some view the move as a celebration of the new president, while others see it as a sign of disrespect toward the late President Carter and a breach of federal law.