Politics usually feels like a game of "us versus them," especially when you’re looking at deep-blue California or purple-leaning Colorado. But on January 20, 2025, something weird happened. If you looked up at the state capitols in Sacramento or Denver, the American flag wasn't where it was "supposed" to be.
For weeks leading up to the second swearing-in of Donald Trump, flags across the country had been at half-staff. It wasn't a protest. It was a period of national mourning for former President Jimmy Carter, who passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. By federal code, the flag stays down for 30 days after a former president dies. That meant, mathematically, the flags were set to stay low until January 28—well past the inauguration.
Then came the "flag war."
Donald Trump wasn't having it. He took to social media, calling the prospect of a half-mast inauguration a slight by Democrats who were "giddy" about the optics. Honestly, it became a massive talking point overnight. What started as a standard procedure for honoring a centenarian leader turned into a high-stakes debate about national pride versus partisan respect.
The California Surprise: Why Newsom Folded
You’ve gotta admit, Gavin Newsom is usually the last person anyone expects to do Trump a favor. The California governor has basically built his recent political brand on being the "anti-Trump," filing dozens of lawsuits and positioning the Golden State as a fortress against the MAGA agenda.
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But on the Wednesday before the inauguration, Newsom’s office dropped a bombshell. He was going to raise the flags.
It wasn't because he suddenly became a fan. California was, at the time, dealing with some of the most catastrophic wildfires in its history. Thousands of people were displaced, and the state was looking at a massive bill for disaster relief. Some political analysts, and frankly anyone with common sense, pointed out that Newsom needed federal aid. Picking a fight over a flagpole when you need the incoming president to sign off on billions in emergency funding is a bad move.
So, for one day only, the flags at the Sacramento Capitol went to the top. It was a pragmatic, if slightly awkward, truce.
Colorado and the "National Unity" Approach
Over in Colorado, Governor Jared Polis took a slightly different tone. Colorado isn't the deep-blue stronghold that California is; it’s got a much more Libertarian, "leave me alone" streak. Polis, a Democrat who often tries to play the role of the reasonable adult in the room, framed the decision as a matter of tradition and respect for the office of the presidency itself.
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He announced that flags in Colorado would be raised from sunrise to sunset on January 20.
- The Logic: An inauguration is a peaceful transfer of power.
- The Twist: As soon as the sun went down, the flags went right back to half-staff.
- The Duration: They stayed down until the 30-day mourning period for Carter officially ended on January 28.
It was a clever middle ground. By raising the flags, Polis avoided the "un-American" accusations coming from the right, but by lowering them immediately after, he kept his promise to honor Jimmy Carter’s legacy.
Trump’s Response and the New Flag Rule
While the governors were making their calls, House Speaker Mike Johnson was already leading the charge in D.C. He ordered the U.S. Capitol flags to be raised to full-staff for the ceremony, regardless of the mourning period.
Trump, never one to let a moment pass without a policy change, didn't just want the flags up for his day—he wanted them up for every future inauguration. One of the first things he did after taking the oath was sign an executive order. Basically, it mandates that the American flag must fly at full height for every future Inauguration Day, regardless of whether a period of mourning is in effect.
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He called it an act to "celebrate the Constitution." Critics called it a dig at Carter’s memory. Either way, the "trump inauguration flags california colorado" saga proved that even a piece of cloth on a string can become a battlefield in modern American politics.
What This Means for You
If you were driving through Denver or Sacramento that day and felt confused, you weren't alone. It was a bizarre moment where the rigid rules of the U.S. Flag Code met the immovable object of 2025 political optics.
For those of us watching from the sidelines, here are the real takeaways:
- Protocol is flexible: Even "strict" flag codes can be adjusted when political pressure gets high enough.
- Pragmatism beats pride: Governors like Newsom will choose federal disaster aid over a symbolic flag protest every single time.
- Optics are everything: In the social media age, the height of a flag on a pole is worth a thousand press releases.
The flags eventually went back up for good on January 29, once the 30 days were officially over. But the precedent is set. Next time an inauguration rolls around during a period of mourning, expect the flags to be at the very top of the pole, no questions asked.
To stay informed on how these state-level decisions affect federal funding and local policy, keep a close eye on the Governor’s office press releases in your specific state. Monitoring the "State Administrative Manual" for your region is also a great way to see how flag protocols and other symbolic gestures are being codified for the future.