Trump flies US flag at full height before end of 30-day mourning period

ABC News - Jan 13th, 2025
Open on ABC News

At President-elect Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. flags have been raised to full staff, contrary to the directive to keep them at half-staff until the end of January in honor of former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29. The decision to raise the flags comes after Carter was laid to rest in Plains, Georgia, and amidst Trump's reported frustration that flags will remain at half-staff on January 20, the day of his second-term inauguration. Despite previous criticisms of Carter during his campaign, Trump attended Carter's state funeral and paid respects at his casket in the Capitol Rotunda. A spokesperson for Trump did not respond to requests for comment on the matter. Both President Joe Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had ordered flags to remain at half-staff for 30 days following Carter's death, a standard protocol to honor a former president's passing. Trump's actions at Mar-a-Lago have drawn attention due to their deviation from this tradition, potentially reflecting ongoing political tensions and personal grievances. The situation underscores the complex interplay between public mourning protocols and political events, highlighting Trump's contentious relationship with Carter and the broader political landscape.

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RATING

5.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a concise report on the status of U.S. flags at Mar-a-Lago following the death of former President Jimmy Carter. While it offers specific details about the protocol for flag lowering and the actions taken at Mar-a-Lago, it falls short in providing diverse perspectives and lacks comprehensive source citation. The piece could benefit from greater transparency regarding its sources and context, and its clarity is somewhat hindered by the absence of a clear narrative structure. Overall, the article is informative but could be improved with more balanced reporting and better source attribution.

RATING DETAILS

6
Accuracy

The article accurately reports on the flag protocol following the death of former President Jimmy Carter, including the directive to fly flags at half-staff for 30 days. It mentions specific dates and actions taken at Mar-a-Lago. However, it lacks direct quotes from officials or clear evidence supporting the claim that Trump expressed annoyance over the flag protocol coinciding with his inauguration. The article would benefit from additional verification or direct statements to support this assertion, as the lack of a response from Trump's spokesperson leaves the reader with an incomplete picture.

5
Balance

The article primarily presents the perspective of actions taken at Mar-a-Lago and Trump's purported annoyance, but it does not provide a wide range of viewpoints. There is a noticeable lack of commentary from other political figures or analysts that could provide context or differing opinions on the situation. This absence of alternative perspectives results in a somewhat unbalanced report, where the focus is narrowly placed on Trump's actions without a broader discussion of the implications or reactions from other stakeholders.

6
Clarity

The article is written in clear and straightforward language, which makes the information accessible to readers. However, the structure could be improved to enhance clarity. The piece jumps from factual reporting about the flag status to speculation about Trump's feelings without a clear transition. Additionally, the article lacks a strong conclusion that ties together the different elements presented, which leaves the reader without a cohesive understanding of the situation. A more organized structure and better articulation of the narrative would enhance clarity.

4
Source quality

The article does not cite any sources directly, which makes it difficult to assess the credibility and reliability of the information presented. While it mentions directives from President Joe Biden and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, it does not attribute these details to any official statements or documents. The piece would be strengthened by including references to official communications or statements from involved parties, which would enhance its credibility and allow readers to verify the information independently.

4
Transparency

The article lacks transparency in several areas. It does not provide the basis for certain claims, such as Trump's alleged annoyance, and does not disclose potential conflicts of interest or affiliations that might affect the impartiality of the report. The lack of response from Trump's spokesperson is mentioned, but there is no discussion of efforts made to obtain comments from other relevant parties. Greater disclosure of the reporting process and context would improve the transparency and trustworthiness of the article.