In early January 2025, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump reportedly complained about the American flag being flown at half-staff on the day of his second presidential inauguration. Flags were lowered in December 2024 to honor late former President Jimmy Carter, who died Dec. 29, 2024.

Flags are to be flown at half-staff for 30 days from the day of a current or former president’s death “on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions,” as codified in the Office of the Federal Register in 1954.

President Joe Biden issued a directive stating that U.S. flags will be flown at half-staff for 30 days from the day of Jimmy Carter's death.

In President Joe Biden’s proclamation about the death of Carter, he directed that flags be flown at half-staff “as an expression of public sorrow” for 30 days—a period of time that includes President-elect Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20.

Trump will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, and U.S. flags on public buildings will fly at half-staff to honor former President Jimmy Carter until Jan. 28.