The U.S. and Alaska flags at the Alaska State Capitol, and all other state facilities, will fly at full height on Monday in recognition of President-elect Donald J. Trump’s inauguration, interrupting for a day the nationwide flying of flags at half-staff for 30 days following the death of former President Jimmy Carter, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Thursday.
Dunleavy is joining numerous other governors — which as of Thursday included California, North Dakota, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, and Iowa — in his declaration “to celebrate the Constitution and honor the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump,” according to a press release from the governor’s office. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, also ordered U.S. flags at the Capitol be raised on Inauguration Day.
The flags will be raised to full staff at sunrise on Monday as Trump is sworn into office and return to half-staff at sunrise on Tuesday, where they will remain through the typical period of national mourning. The flag-lowering period was declared by President Joe Biden after Carter’s death on Dec. 29 at the age of 100 and is expected to last until Jan. 28 — the typical 30-day period for a U.S. president.
Trump has expressed his discontent that flags would still be lowered when he takes his oath and during his first week in office. “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it,” he posted on social media.
It’s possible Trump could order the reversal of Biden’s decision once he’s installed as president, ending the national period of mourning early, according to the Associated Press.
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz.garrett@juneauempire.com or (907) 723-9356.
