NJ Republican Wanted Montclair To Raise Flags For Trump Inauguration

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Should Montclair have raised its U.S. flags to full-staff for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration – despite Jimmy Carter’s recent death? That’s what the chair of the Montclair Republican County Committee says.

Trump was sworn in as the nation’s 47th president on Monday. Although New Jersey voters cast more ballots for Kamala Harris, it was a close race in a state that traditionally skews blue. See Related: 5 NJ Counties Flip Red In Trump Vs. Harris Race (See Breakdown)

Earlier this week, Montclair Republican County Committee chair Michael Byrne called on the Montclair Township Council to honor “our nation's peaceful transition of power” by raising U.S. flags to full-staff for Inauguration Day.

“A hallmark of our republic is the peaceful transfer of power from one administration to the next,” said Byrne, a former New Jersey Senate candidate.

“It's only fitting that we fully celebrate this remarkable event by proudly flying our nation's flag at full-staff for the big celebration,” he said.

Byrne acknowledged that the recent death of former president Jimmy Carter also deserves to be honored – which the state is doing by lowering flags to half-staff until Jan. 28 under an executive order from Gov. Phil Murphy.

However, Trump also deserves a salute, he added.

“President Carter and his family deserve to have flags flown at half-staff as we mourn his passing,” Byrne said. “But we also have to celebrate the transfer of power that only takes place once or twice a decade.”

Trump issued his own proclamation earlier this week, ordering that U.S. flags be flown at full-staff for his second Inauguration Day.

Byrne’s suggestion? Montclair officials should be prepared to “embrace Trump's will” and display the U.S. flag at full staff from noon on Jan. 20 until the following day.

“The Flag Code is clear that the president can alter, repeal, modify and or supplement the rules or customs pertaining to the display of the flag," Byrne said.

“[President Trump] has made clear that he feels a presidential inauguration is significant enough to warrant a temporary suspension of any mourning period,” he added.

Byrne wasn’t the only Republican to demand that flags be raised for Trump’s big day.

State Assemblyman Brian Bergen (NJ-26) criticized Gov. Murphy’s announcement that New Jersey would indeed be raising flags for Inauguration Day – which came around 6 p.m. on Monday.

Bergen released a statement Jan. 9 calling on Murphy to raise the flag to full mast for Trump’s inauguration. He pointed to historical precedent when, in 1973, Richard Nixon raised flags briefly from half-staff, originally lowered for Lyndon Johnson’s death, to honor the first American prisoners of war released from Vietnam. Flags returned to half-staff the following day to complete the mourning period.

“It was a day to put aside the blue versus red and stand unified in the red, white, and blue,” Bergen said. “It was a day for all Americans to celebrate the peaceful transfer of power in the most powerful nation on the planet for all the world to witness, and Murphy made it about politics.”

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