AUSTIN – Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered that flags at state buildings will be raised to full-staff for the day of president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Flags have been flown at half-staff since former president Jimmy Carter’s death on Dec. 29.

President Joe Biden ordered flags to be at half-staff for 30 days following Carter’s death, which is tradition when a former president dies.

Gov. Abbott orders flags at full-staff on Inauguration Day

What we know:

On Monday, Governor Greg Abbott ordered that all flags at the Texas Capitol and other state buildings will be raised to full-staff on Jan. 20, 2025.

Donald Trump will be sworn in for his second term as president in Washington D.C. on that Monday.

Gov. Abbott’s announcement cited a federal statute which says the flag should be displayed on all days, including Inauguration Day.

The president-elect has spoken out against the idea of flags being at half-staff for his inauguration.

READ MORE: Guide to 2025 Presidential Inauguration

“The Democrats are all “giddy” about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at “half mast” during my Inauguration. They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our Country, they only think about themselves,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Jan. 3. “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

What they’re saying:

“Texas continues to mourn with our fellow Americans across the country over the passing of former President Jimmy Carter,” said Governor Abbott in a statement. “President Carter’s steadfast leadership left a lasting legacy that will be felt for generations to come, which together as a nation we honor by displaying flags at half-staff for 30 days. On January 20, our great nation will celebrate our democratic tradition of transferring power to a new President by inaugurating the 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. As we unite our country and usher in this new era of leadership, I ordered all flags to be raised to full-staff at the Texas Capitol and all state buildings for the inauguration of President Trump. While we honor the service of a former President, we must also celebrate the service of an incoming President and the bright future ahead for the United States of America.”

Why are US flags at half-staff?

The backstory:

On Dec. 29, 2024, President Joe Biden ordered flags at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, military posts and naval stations and naval vessels to be flown at half-staff in honor of the life of former president Jimmy Carter.

Under the president’s order, flags would be flown at half-staff for 30 days, until Jan. 28, 2025.

U.S. flag code dictates that flags will remain lowered for 30 days after the death of a former president.

That would include Jan. 20, the day of Mr. Trump’s inauguration.

Have flags been flown at half-staff on Inauguration Day before?

1/20/1973- Washington, DC: President Richard Nixon, inauguration general view of swearing-in ceremony with capitol building in background.

Dig deeper:

Flags were flown at half-staff when Richard Nixon was sworn-in for his second term in 1973.

Nixon had ordered the flags to be lowered after the death of former President Harry Truman.