The White House swiftly dismissed Donald Trump's complaints about half-mast flags during his inauguration, honoring President Jimmy Carter's tribute. Karine Jean-Pierre also confronted growing concerns about Trump's misinformation on social media amid the transition period.
Trump's Half-Mast Flag Remarks Prompt Immediate White House Response
On Friday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed two pointed inquiries on the social media remarks made by incoming President Donald Trump, The Raw Story shares.
Trump said on TruthSocial that "The Democrats are all 'giddy' about our glorious American Flag perhaps being at 'half mast' during my inauguration," which was the first of these incidents. He added that they are "narcissistic" and "self-centered," therefore, they are genuinely ecstatic about it and think it's "fantastic."
"In any event, because of the death of President Jimmy Carter, the Flag may, for the first time ever during an Inauguration of a future President, be at half mast. Nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it. Let's see how it plays out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" the former president added.
The first journalist inquired, "President-elect Trump seemed to take issue today with the fact that flags will be flown at half mast at the time of his inauguration, considering the passing of former President Jimmy Carter... Is that a position that the White House would consider reversing or re-evaluating?"
Jean-Pierre responded with a straightforward and abrupt "no."
Biden Honors Carter with Half-Mast Flag Tribute
On December 29, at the age of 100, Democratic former president Jimmy Carter passed away. For 30 days, beginning on the day of Carter's death, until Trump's inauguration on January 20-President Biden had the flags lowered to half-staff as a mark of respect.
Misinformation on Border Policy Sparks Debate
The "misinformation" that Trump has been spreading on social media regarding Biden's "open border policy" as the cause of the terrorist assault in New Orleans on New Year's Eve was brought up by NBC's Kelly O'Donnell.
An incorrect statement about New Orleans was made by President-elect Trump on social media this week, according to O'Donnell. He asked if the president at all concerned about the flow of information, and briefing, and access to whatever intelligence or whatever he might need in terms of this transition. O'Donnell added, "Is he comfortable with the information flow to the president-elect?"
Jean-Pierre Calls for Fact-Checking Amid Transition
Jean-Pierre started off her response by praising the press.
Declaring that she is actually pleased that you posed this question, Jean-Pierre emphasizes that one of the responsibilities of the journalistic community is to fact-check and determine that the statements made by the president-elect were untrue.
According to her, the ODNI is responsible for handling matters pertaining to the president and the information he receives, particularly when such matters concern intelligence and sensitive data. At the time, Jean-Pierre said she's going to stop speculating and just leave it at that.
Tune in for a briefing with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. https://t.co/UMSeDow3v0 — The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 3, 2025
Business Times has reached out to Donald Trump for comments.
