Texas governor abandons federal code to raise flag for Trump

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas introduced on Monday that he’s ordering flags to be flown full-staff on Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day, a blatant disregard of federal code that claims flags ought to be flown half-staff for 30 days after a present or former president dies.

Adhering to flag code, President Joe Biden ordered the flags to be flown half-staff on Dec. 29, the day former President Jimmy Carter died on the age of 100. Which means the flags ought to be lowered throughout Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20.

However Trump has whined about the truth that flags will probably be lowered when he places his hand on the Bible and takes the oath of workplace—possible together with his fingers on his different hand crossed behind his again. 

“The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag doubtlessly being at ‘half mast’ throughout my Inauguration,” Trump moaned on Fact Social on Jan. 3, incorrectly utilizing the “half mast” time period, which applies to flags on ships. “They suppose it’s so nice, and are so pleased about it as a result of, if truth be told, they don’t love our Nation, they solely take into consideration themselves. … No one desires to see this, and no American will be pleased about it. Let’s see the way it performs out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

In that assertion, the “no one” Trump is referring to is probably going himself, because the narcissist in chief can’t deal with not being the focal point.

And now Abbott is appeasing his Pricey Chief Trump by elevating the flags in Texas on inauguration day. 

“On January 20, our nice nation will rejoice our democratic custom of transferring energy to a brand new President by inaugurating the forty seventh President of the US, Donald J. Trump. As we unite our nation and usher on this new period of management, I ordered all flags to be raised to full-staff on the Texas Capitol and all state buildings for the inauguration of President Trump,” Abbott mentioned in a press release. “Whereas we honor the service of a former President, we should additionally rejoice the service of an incoming President and the brilliant future forward for the US of America.”

Within the announcement about his determination, Abbott cited part of flag code that mentioned flags ought to be “displayed on all days,” together with Inauguration Day. However flying a flag half-staff remains to be displaying the flag, so there’s no want to lift it totally and ignore Biden’s proclamation.

There’s additionally precedent for flags being flown half-staff throughout an inauguration.

In 1973, Richard Nixon was sworn in with the flags half-staff following the demise of former President Harry S. Truman.

By elevating the flags when Trump is sworn in, Abbott is simply attempting to stay within the good graces of his buddy Donald. We’ll see if different GOP governors observe go well with. 

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