Speaker Mike Johnson defies Biden order to keep flags at half-staff for Trump inauguration

House Speaker Mike Johnson announced his plan to hoist the U.S. Capitol's flag to full-staff for Donald Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, defying a national period of mourning in place after the death of former President Jimmy Carter.

Johnson released the following statement on Tuesday:

"Today, Speaker Johnson announced that flags at the U.S. Capitol will fly at full-staff on January 20, 2025. The flags were ordered to be at half-staff for the 30 days following President Jimmy Carter’s passing.

“On January 20th, the flags at the Capitol will fly at full-staff to celebrate our country coming together behind the inauguration of our 47th President, Donald Trump. The flags will be lowered back to half-staff the following day to continue honoring President Jimmy Carter.”

Johnson's decision contradicts President Joe Biden's order to keep flags at half-staff for 30 days.

Red state governors of Texas and Alabama have announced that they would also order their flags to be flown at “full-staff” when President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated as the country's 47th president.