SORRY, JIMMY

Newsom to Fly California’s Flags at Full Staff for Trump Inauguration

The decision could be seen as an attempt to placate Trump as the wildfire-hit state seeks federal aid.

Gavin Newsom has directed California officials to temporarily raise the state capitol U.S. flag to full staff on inauguration day, in honor of Donald Trump. The height of U.S. flags has become a political touchpoint after the death of Jimmy Carter in December. State flags are traditionally flown at half-staff for 30 days after the death of former U.S. presidents. However, several GOP governors have already said they will break tradition for inauguration day, following the lead of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who ordered that U.S. Capitol flags be raised to full staff for the inauguration. Newsom’s decision to follow them could be seen as an attempt to placate Trump, as he tries to secure federal help amid deadly wildfires, which are still burning. Trump previously made his feelings clear about the flags potentially being at half-staff for the inauguration in a post on Truth Social, saying “no American can be happy about it.” Later, flags at Mar-a-Lago returned to full staff.