Ordered flags flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day, countermanding Carter mourning period

January 20, 2025

Level

Procedural Bypass

Founders' Principles Violated

Washington

Personal ambition overriding institutional stability.

Jefferson

Government actions that restrict liberty and public access to information.

Madison

Checks & balances bypassed. Executive action without Congressional authority.

Guardrails Violated

Checks and Balances

Constitutional checks and balances between branches of government bypassed.

Mourning Protocol

Presidential mourning protocol and respect for national loss violated.

Why Level 2?

Disproportional escalation: Countermanding established tradition of honoring deceased presidents. Multiple guardrails bypassed: presidential tradition, mourning protocol, executive precedent. Measurable harm to respect for presidential traditions and mourning periods.

What Happened

Context

President Trump signed executive order on January 20, 2025, ordering that U.S. flags always be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day, countermanding President Biden's 30-day mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter, who died on January 15, 2025.

Action Taken

Signed executive order on January 20, 2025 ordering that U.S. flags always be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day, countermanding President Biden's 30-day mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter, who died on January 15, 2025. The order requires flags to be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day regardless of other circumstances, including periods of national mourning. Critics argue the order disrespects the tradition of honoring deceased presidents and undermines the significance of mourning periods.

In His Own Words

"Inauguration Day is a day of celebration, not mourning."

"Flags should always be at full-staff on this important day."

"We will not let mourning periods interfere with our celebrations."

What's Wrong

Executive order countermanding established tradition of honoring deceased presidents with flag protocols. The order requires flags to be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day regardless of other circumstances, including periods of national mourning. Critics argue the order disrespects the tradition of honoring deceased presidents and undermines the significance of mourning periods. The order appears motivated by political considerations rather than respect for presidential traditions.

Impact

Cultural: Disregards tradition of honoring deceased presidents with flag protocols. Institutional: Undermines significance of mourning periods and presidential traditions. Operational: Requires flags to be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day regardless of circumstances. Political: Appears motivated by political considerations rather than respect for traditions.

TANTRUMP.org