Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, a member of the Democratic Party, has made the decision to fly flags at full-staff on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025, in honor of President-elect Donald Trump. Ferguson’s official directive states that flags in Washington State and at U.S. agency facilities will be raised on this significant day.
This decision comes in spite of President Biden’s recent proclamation for flags to be at half-staff across the nation following the passing of former President Jimmy Carter. Biden’s order calls for a 30-day period of mourning during which flags are to remain at half-staff, a tradition following the death of a former president.
Despite this mourning period, Ferguson, along with other Democratic governors such as Gavin Newsom of California and Jared Polis of Colorado, has chosen to uphold the honor of Trump’s inauguration by raising flags to full-staff before the mourning period concludes.
Many Republican governors, including Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas, have also opted to raise their flags for Trump’s inauguration, demonstrating a unity among GOP leaders during this transition of power.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has joined this wave, ordering U.S. Capitol flags to be flown at full-staff on Inauguration Day as well. Trump himself has voiced his concerns regarding the possibility of flags being displayed at half-staff during his inauguration, expressing that the Democrats seem pleased at the thought and questioning their love for the country.
Historically, flags have occasionally been flown at half-staff during presidential inaugurations, such as in 1973 when flags were lowered for Richard Nixon’s second inauguration due to the passing of Harry Truman. The current situation creates a unique moment in American political history and raises many discussions on tradition, respect, and the symbolism of the flag itself.
