According to Knewz.com, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has sparked anger by ordering all U.S. flags in his state to fly at full staff on Donald Trump’s inauguration day.
The nation has observed half-staff flags in remembrance of former President Jimmy Carter.
All U.S. flags are required to fly at half-staff for 30 days following the passing of a president, per protocol. Carter passed away on December 29.
The flag must be “half-staff for 30 days at all federal buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and its territories and possessions following the death of the president or a former president,” according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Flags are therefore expected to remain lowered until January 28th, which is just a few days after Trump’s second inauguration.
Abbott, however, has circumvented that directive by requiring that all flags at the Texas Capitol and other buildings fly high on January 20.
Online, the move sparked immediate outrage, with many criticizing Abbott for being callous and indifferent to the deceased Carter.
Someone wrote on Twitter: “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to raise flags on Inauguration Day isn’t only a sign of disrespect to President Carter’sfamily, but our entire nation.”
“Not surprising Greg Abbott still continues to prove he is a POS,” slammed another, and a third referred to the governor as “utter trash.”
Someone yelled: “Texas Governor Greg Abbott has no respect for former President Jimmy Carter, no respect for the federalgovernment, and definitely no respect for the traditions of this great nation.”
“ABBOTT IS THE EPITOME OF DISRESPECT FOR OUR FALLEN PRESIDENT,” one irate protester wrote in all caps. A simple want to kiss Trump’s ass.”
“Texas continues to mourn with our fellow Americans across the country over the passing of former President Jimmy Carter,” Abbott said in a statement defending his decision.
“As a nation, we celebrate President Carter’s enduring legacy by flying the flag at half-staff for 30 days. His unwavering leadership will be felt for decades to come.
“On January 20, our wonderful country will commemorate the democratic custom of handing over power to a new president by formally welcoming Donald J. Trump as the 47th President of the United States.
“I directed that all flags be flown at full-staff at the Texas Capitol and other state buildings in preparation for President Trump’s inauguration as we come together as a nation and begin this new era of leadership.
We must celebrate the service of an incoming president and the promising future of the United States of America while also paying tribute to the service of a former president.
Flags will fly at half-staff on the day of the president-elect’s inauguration, which was previously disclosed to have disturbed him.
The incoming president expressed his thoughts on the issue on his personal website, Truth Social: “The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag possibly being at ‘half mast’ during my Inauguration.” (Trump mispronounced the phrase, which describes flags flown halfway up a ship’s mast at sea, not a flag pole.)
He went on: “They think it’s fantastic and are very happy about it, but in reality, they only care about themselves and don’t love our country.”
Over the last four years, observe what they have done to our once-great America. It’s a complete disaster!
“In any event, 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 (sic).”
And that was wrong, too. When President Richard Nixon took the oath of office for his second term in January 1973, flags were at half-staff following the death of Harry Truman in December 1972.
“Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it,” Trump said in closing, seemingly hinting that he could try to let the flags fly high. Let’s see what happens. “RESTORE GREATNESS IN AMERICA!”
Democratic supporters were aware of the timing of Carter’s death and the flag-lowering that followed, and they flocked to X to draw attention to the connection.
Someone wrote on Twitter: “I’m so sad for this great man’s passing but this is going to p— off the orange clown so much, and I’ve convinced myself this was Jimmy’s plan the whole time.”
Someone else said: “Jimmy Carter left one last parting gift for Trump after his death.”
“A nice FU Trump from President Jimmy Carter!” exclaimed a third.