U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport has ordered the Capitol flags to be flown at full-staff during President-elect Trump’s inauguration Jan. 20, suspending the mourning period of the late former President Jimmy Carter for one day.
Johnson, who was reelected to the top job in Congress with Trump’s backing, issued the order at the president-elect’s request.
Johnson, the first speaker from Louisiana in American history, said the Capitol flags will lowered back to half-staff on Jan. 21 for the rest of the prescribed 30-day mourning period.
“On January 20th, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump,” Johnson said in a statement. “The flags will be lowered back to half-staff the following day to continue honoring President Jimmy Carter.”
U.S. flags have been flying at half-staff at all federal properties since President Joe Biden ordered the measure when Carter died on Dec. 29. Thirty days has been the prescribed time for lowering flags after a president’s death since 1954
Trump expressed his objection to the flag flying at half-staff on his inauguration day in a Jan. 3 post on Truth Social, saying, “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out.”
More: When will police, teachers receive raise from new Social Security Fairness Act?
Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Speaker Mike Johnson of Shreveport changes flag order for Trump inauguration