Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Monday that flags at the Texas Capitol and state buildings will be raised to full staff on January 20 for President-elect Donald J. Trump’s second-term inauguration. The decision interrupts a 30-day national period of half-staff mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, as ordered by President Joe Biden.
“Texas continues to mourn with our fellow Americans over the passing of former President Jimmy Carter,” Abbott said. “His steadfast leadership left a lasting legacy.” Despite this acknowledgment, Abbott emphasized the importance of honoring the transition of presidential power by raising flags to full staff on Inauguration Day.
Abbott framed the decision as a balance between mourning and celebration. “While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead for the United States of America,” he said.
The announcement comes amid political tension following Carter’s death on December 29 at age 100. As the nation’s longest-living former president, Carter was widely honored for his post-presidential humanitarian efforts. Biden ordered flags lowered nationwide for 30 days in tribute.
Trump, however, criticized the timing of the flag-lowering during his January 20 inauguration. In a Truth Social post on January 3, he accused Democrats of being “giddy” about the half-staff display. “They think it’s so great... because they don’t love our Country,” Trump said. He later tempered his tone, acknowledging Carter’s dedication to America despite their political differences.
Abbott’s directive, while limited to Texas state buildings, highlights the symbolic tensions between national mourning and the celebration of presidential continuity. Texans, like the rest of the nation, continue to reflect on Carter’s legacy even as preparations for Trump’s inauguration move forward.
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