Trump is angry at taking office under the half-mast

US President-elect Donald Trump blasted a decision to fly flags at half-staff for former US President Jimmy Carter on the day of the next president's inauguration and swore that he will not tolerate such disrespect.

Following Carter's death on December 29, President Joe Biden ordered US federal government buildings and military installations – among other places – to "display the flag of the United States at halfstaff for 30 days," beginning "on the date of interment." It also established January 9 as a national day of mourning.

It is customary in America's capital to place flags at half-staff when many high-ranking government officials die. In 1954, an executive order issued by then-President Dwight D. Eisenhower specified, according to flag rules that have been used for many other officials in succeeding decades, what must be done when the country grieves, specifying who should be honored and for how long their memory should be recognized.

It is reported that a sitting or former president's memory should be honored for 30 days from the day of death, and a sitting vice president, chief justice of the Supreme Court, or retired chief justice for 10 days. Others, including White House chiefs of staff, get shorter periods, depending upon what position they held.

Now, although Trump recently has told media that he will attend a memorial service for Carter, he nonetheless was furious – taking to social media on Wednesday to express how he felt about an honoring a former president on the day he was to be introduced as the leader of the free world.

"How dumb can you get!" Trump's post began. "The Dems are having a 'Field Day' thinking that there is a possibility that our beautiful American Flag will have to be 'Half-Staffed' on my Inauguration, and all because of a disgusting, horrible (sic), small-minded, totally inappropriate, and completely disrespectful Executive Order that I would not let get anywhere in my Administration!"

But it is not the first time in history a new American president's inauguration has fallen within the designated period that an honor is paid to those at the highest level of government. For example, President Richard Nixon's second inauguration – in January 1973 – is on record as happening just 39 days after former US President Harry S. Truman's death on December 26, 1972.

"It's business as usual," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier this week before a Thursday briefing, according to CNN. "No one's reconsidering anything or thinking about anything in that regard."