Governor Gavin Newsom raises California flag to full height at Trump’s inauguration
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom will temporarily raise the American flag at the state Capitol to full height on Inauguration Day next week, joining a handful of Republican governors and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson in making the decision.
Newsom’s press office confirmed the decision to Fox News Digital Wednesday night.
As per tradition, due to the death of former President Jimmy Carter on December 29, 2024, flags at the U.S. Capitol and state government buildings across the country were flown at half-staff.
Flags temporarily flown at half-staff will return to half-staff on Jan. 21 for the remainder of a 30-day mourning period that will end on Jan. 28, eight days after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in.
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California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the flag to be temporarily raised at the state Capitol during President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. (Getty/AP)
As of Thursday morning, Newsom was the only Democratic governor to issue the directive, which comes as Southern California is devastated by catastrophic wildfires.
Idaho Governor Brad Little, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Love Nevada Governor Kim Reynolds and Texas Governor Greg Abbott have recently made similar decisions.
House Speaker Johnson also ordered the U.S. Capitol to be filled to capacity during Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
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Trump criticized flags that may be flown at half-mast at his inauguration following Carter’s death.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also ordered flags to be temporarily flown at the U.S. Capitol during Trump’s inauguration. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
“Democrats are ‘excited’ that our majestic American flag may be flown ‘at half-staff’ during my inauguration,” Trump wrote on “Truth Social” on January 3. “They think it’s awesome, and Very happy about this, because, in fact, they do not love our country, they only think of themselves.
“Look at what they’ve done to our once great America over the past four years – it’s a complete mess! Regardless, due to the death of President Jimmy Carter, the flag may not be used during the inauguration for the first time ever. President, please lower the flags to half-staff,” he continued. “No one wants to see this, no American is going to be happy about this. Let’s see how it plays out. Make America Great Again!”
President-elect Trump has criticized the possibility of flying flags at half-staff during the Jan. 20 inauguration, even though the flag was flown at half-staff during the 30-day mourning period following the death of former President Jimmy Carter. (Donald Trump/Truth Society)
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Flags were flown at half-staff nationwide in 1973 when former President Richard Nixon ordered flags to be flown at half-staff after the death of former President Harry S. Truman, who was sworn in for his second term.
Fox News Digital’s Landon Mion contributed to this report.
