Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom will temporarily raise the American flag at the state Capitol to full height on Inauguration Day next week, joining a handful of Republican governors and Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson in making the decision.
Newsom's press office confirmed the decision to Fox News Digital Wednesday night.
As per tradition, due to the death of former President Jimmy Carter on December 29, 2024, flags at the U.S. Capitol and state government buildings across the country were flown at half-staff.
Flags temporarily flown at half-staff will return to half-staff on Jan. 21 for the remainder of a 30-day mourning period that will end on Jan. 28, eight days after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in.
Tribute to Trump: Speaker Johnson says flag will be flown at U.S. Capitol during presidential inauguration
California Governor Gavin Newsom ordered the flag to be temporarily raised at the state Capitol for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20. (Getty/AP)
As of Thursday morning, Newsom was the only Democratic governor to issue the directive, which comes as Southern California is devastated by catastrophic wildfires.
Idaho Governor Brad Little, North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Love Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott have recently made similar decisions. Among them were Republicans.
House Speaker Johnson also ordered the U.S. Capitol to be filled to capacity at Trump's inauguration on January 20.
Despite Jimmy Carter's 30-day mourning period, DeSantis orders full flags for Trump's inauguration
Trump criticized the possibility of flags flying at half-mast at his inauguration following Carter's death.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson also ordered flags to be temporarily flown at the U.S. Capitol during Trump's inauguration. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Martin)
“Democrats are ‘excited’ that our majestic American flag might be flown at half-staff during my inauguration,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on January 3. “They think it’s awesome and are excited about it.” "I'm very happy because, in fact, they don't love our country, they only think about themselves."
"Look at what they've done to our once great America over the last four years - it's a complete mess! Regardless, the flag may not be used during the inauguration for the first time ever due to the passing of President Jimmy Carter. President, please lower the flags to half-staff," he continued. "No one wants to see this, and no American is going to be happy about it. Let's see how it plays out. Make America Great Again!"
President-elect Trump has criticized the possibility of flying flags at half-staff during the Jan. 20 inauguration, even though the flag was flown at half-staff during the 30-day mourning period following the death of former President Jimmy Carter. (Donald Trump/Truth Society)
Click here to get the Fox News app
Flags were flown at half-staff nationwide in 1973 when former President Richard Nixon ordered flags to be flown at half-staff after the death of former President Harry S. Truman as he was sworn in for his second term.
Fox News Digital's Landon Mion contributed to this report.