Trump responds to KEPW opinion, orders flags to full staff on Inauguration Day

from Office of the Governor, Attorney General, and staff reports

President Trump, reportedly infuriated by the opinions expressed in a KEPW News article and elsewhere, issued a first-day proclamation.

Gov. Tina Kotek subsequently ordered all flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown to full staff Monday, January 20, in recognition of Inauguration Day. She had previously ordered them to half-staff in honor of the late President Jimmy Carter.

Given the customary 30-day mourning period, a KEPW Opinion found it fitting and proper that the flag would be at half-mast on Inauguration Day. That means, the columnist opined, “the flag will officially be in a state of mourning.”

In an initial response, Trump wrote, “Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let’s see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

It marked the second time the flag flew at half-staff on Inauguration Day.  President Harry S. Truman died Dec. 26, 1972, just before the Jan. 20, 1973 inauguration of President Richard M. Nixon.

Among his first acts after taking the oath of office, the proclamation by President Trump states:

“By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in honor of Inauguration Day and everything good and noble that it represents about our Nation, our people, and our form of Government, I hereby order that, on this and all future Inauguration Days, the flag of the United States shall be flown at full-staff.

“Accordingly, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at full-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government, in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions, for the remainder of this day beginning immediately.

“I also direct that, for the same period of time, the flag shall be flown at full-staff at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

“Upon the end of this Inauguration Day, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be returned to half-staff as directed by Proclamation 10876 of December 29, 2024 (Announcing the Death of James Earl Carter, Jr.), in recognition of the memory of our former President, until the period of 30 days from the day of his passing has concluded. (January 28, 2025)

“IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.”

The proclamation came amid a flurry of first-day executive activity, including an executive order ending birthright citizenship.

Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced Jan. 21 that he and the attorneys general from Arizona, Illinois, and Washington are challenging President Trump’s violation of “the constitutional rights to which all children born in the U.S. are entitled.”

“The administration’s attempt to sidestep the 14th Amendment is a clear violation of the United States Constitution. If allowed to stand, this order would break decades of established law that has helped keep kids healthy and safe,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “While the president has every right to issue executive orders during his time in office, that power does not extend to instituting policies that infringe on our constitutional rights.”

The filing explains that birthright citizenship dates back centuries—including to pre-Civil War America. Although the Supreme Court’s notorious decision in Dred Scott denied birthright citizenship to the descendants of slaves, the post-Civil War United States adopted the 14th Amendment to protect citizenship for children born in the country.

The U.S. Supreme Court has twice upheld birthright citizenship, regardless of the immigration status of the baby’s parents.

Oregon says the order will cause the states to lose federal funding to programs that they administer, such as Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and foster care and adoption assistance programs, which all turn at least in part on the immigration status of the resident being served.

The filing also said the administrative changes required to comply with the executive order will increase costs for multiple state agencies.

After Inauguration Day, the flag will be flown at half-staff until sunset on January 28, 2025.

Gov. Kotek said, “I deeply admired President Jimmy Carter and followed his work during and after his presidency. He exemplified optimism, an unshakable faith in the human spirit, and resolve to end suffering in his country and across the world. President Carter was a champion of common sense for the common good.

“He bolstered social services, economic opportunities for women and people of color, and was a longtime proponent for affordable housing, and so much more. He did not turn away from public service after his presidency and instead leaned into a life-long career of helping others, diplomatic pursuits, and being an outspoken advocate for working people.

“Leaders like President Carter are best remembered in their own words. In his 2002 Nobel Peace Prize address he stated: ‘The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices. God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes – and we must.’

“Oregon sends love to the Carter family, may he rest in peace.”