Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' order to fly flags at full staff for Donald Trump's inauguration during the mourning period for Jimmy Carter has been panned by the Miami Herald for prioritizing politics over tradition.
In a Friday opinion piece by the newspaper's editorial board, the Herald accused DeSantis of casting aside recognition of Carter's service to the nation "to preserve the incoming president's ego."
Newsweek has contacted DeSantis' office via email for comment.
Why It Matters
The decision to fly flags at full-staff during Trump's inauguration diverges from President Joe Biden's order that flags remain at half-staff for 30 days to honor Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024. DeSantis' move aligns with at least seven other Republican-led states who have ordered flags be flown at full-staff for Inauguration Day.
The Herald suggested DeSantis' order undermines national unity by politicizing flag protocol, which has historically balanced respect for past leaders with celebrating new presidencies.
What to Know
DeSantis' order mandates all state flags in Florida be flown at full-staff on Monday to mark the inauguration of Trump as the 47th president.
This directive comes despite a federal order from Preisdent Biden that flags be flown at half-staff for 30 days following Carter's death. Doing so is a traditional protocol following the death of a current or former president, even if it covers Inauguration Day.
Richard Nixon, for example, was inaugurated for a second time in January 1973 while all flags were still at half‐staff in memory of former President Harry S. Truman, who had died the previous December.
In a statement posted to X, DeSantis described Inauguration Day as "an important tradition of our Republic where Americans come together to celebrate the peaceful transition of power."
The Herald criticized the governor's decision, noting that it breaks with historical precedent observed during previous inaugurations coinciding with periods of mourning.
"Why does the Inauguration Day tradition carry more weight than acknowledging the passing of a former president? Regardless of political party, Carter's service to our nation is deserving of recognition and shouldn't be cast aside to preserve the incoming president's ego," the Herald wrote.
Eight states, including Alabama, Texas, and Ohio, have issued similar orders to fly flags at full-staff for Trump's inauguration, citing the symbolic significance of welcoming a new president. The flags will return to half-staff on January 21 in accordance with the mourning period for Carter.
President-elect Trump expressed frustration over the potential for flags to be flown at half-staff on his Inauguration Day, saying "no American can be happy about it."
What People Are Saying
The Miami Herald Editorial Board: "Sadly, it seems the long tradition of honoring a president in death is being sacrificed to politics."
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, on X: "[Inauguration Day] represents a season of new hope and limitless potential for America's future."
President-elect Donald Trump, on Truth Social, responding to the prospect of flags being at half-mast for his inauguration: "Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it."
What Happens Next
Flags across Florida and other participating states are set to return to half-staff on January 21, as the mourning period for former President Carter continues until January 28.
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