America’s Double Mourning: Carter’s Death & Trump’s Inauguration
Following President Carter’s passing, President-elect Trump offered condolences, acknowledging the shared experience of the presidency and Carter’s efforts to improve American lives. His Truth Social post, however, omitted any mention of the customary half-mast flags. This omission is noteworthy given Trump’s well-documented focus on symbolic displays of power and prestige. Speculation suggests that Trump might perceive a half-mast flag at his inauguration as diminishing his image.