It’s hard to imagine politics playing a role in something as simple as lowering a flag to honor a leader’s passing, but that’s exactly what’s happening in Nassau County, New York.
When former President Jimmy Carter passed away at the age of 100 last weekend, President Biden immediately called for all flags at federal buildings to be flown at half-staff for 30 days, as a mark of respect. However, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, a Republican, has not followed suit. As of now, Blakeman has offered no public explanation for his decision not to lower the flags at county-operated buildings.
The situation became even more contentious when Democratic county legislator Seth Koslow spoke out, expressing his belief that honoring a former president shouldn’t be about politics. “This should be about doing what’s right for a person who represented and served our country,” Koslow said, calling the county’s refusal an embarrassment.
While President Biden ordered the flags to remain at half-staff across all federal and military buildings, he also announced a national day of mourning for Carter on January 9, with a state funeral planned at the National Cathedral in Washington. Carter’s body will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda from January 7 to January 9.
And here’s a twist: flags will still be at half-staff on Inauguration Day, January 20, when the new president, Donald Trump, takes office. President Biden’s proclamation, which dates back to a 1954 order from President Dwight Eisenhower, mandates that flags remain at half-staff for 30 days in honor of Carter. This means we’ll see the flags lowered during a major transition of power, a moment that Trump himself commented on, saying, “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out.”
Despite the controversy, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House will not change its stance on the matter.
Trump, for his part, plans to attend Carter’s funeral, showing a mark of respect, even as some question the political drama surrounding the flag.
In the end, it’s clear that how we honor our leaders can still spark heated debate—no matter the occasion. What do you think? Should politics ever play a role in how we pay respects to those who have served our country?
