Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

New Jersey Keeps Flags at Full-Staff for Lindsey Graham as Trump Orders 3-Day Half-Staff Tribute

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

New Jersey Keeps Flags at Full-Staff for Lindsey Graham as Trump Orders 3-Day Half-Staff Tribute

Q: Why can a state governor ignore a presidential order to fly flags at half-staff?

A governor can decline to mirror a presidential half-staff proclamation because the president’s order is binding on federal property, not automatically on state-owned buildings. Under the U.S. Flag Code, the president may direct flags to half-staff at federal buildings, military posts, naval stations and other federal facilities nationwide. But the Flag Code is generally treated as guidance on flag etiquette, not a criminally enforceable mandate for states or private parties. That means there is no broad federal penalty forcing a governor to lower flags on state property. Governors have their own authority over state facilities and commonly issue separate half-staff orders for state buildings. In practice, many states choose to match presidential proclamations as a matter of custom, respect and uniformity, but they are not universally required to do so unless state law says otherwise. The same is true for local governments, businesses and private citizens, who often follow such observances voluntarily. So in a case like New Jersey’s, federal buildings in the state would still be expected to follow President Trump’s proclamation, while flags at state buildings depend on whether the governor issues or recognizes a state-level order. That is why neighboring states can act differently even during the same national mourning period.

Q: What message does it send when states differ on honoring a national public figure?

When states differ on honoring a national public figure, the clearest message is that the tribute is not being expressed as a fully shared national moment. A half-staff flag is meant to signal collective mourning, respect, and unity. When some states follow that practice and others do not, the symbolism becomes uneven and the sense of a single national observance is weakened. The split also reflects how the system works. A presidential proclamation applies to federal property, but governors generally control flag orders for state buildings, and the U.S. Flag Code is largely advisory rather than enforceable. That means differences can arise even when there is broad public recognition of a person’s service. In this case, the Senate’s unanimous resolution honoring Lindsey Graham and tributes from figures across the political spectrum showed substantial institutional respect, even as state responses varied. At the same time, inconsistent observance can invite interpretations beyond procedure. It may be read as a sign of differing judgments about how to mark a public figure’s legacy, or simply as a sign that states are exercising their own discretion. Either way, the practical effect is that attention shifts from the person being honored to the inconsistency itself. That matters because synchronized flag-lowering carries its force from uniformity. When that uniformity breaks, the public sees less of a common act of remembrance and more of a fragmented response.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 16

New Jersey state flags were still listed at full-staff Thursday, despite a White House proclamation ordering U.S. flags lowered nationwide for Sen. Lindsey Graham through Saturday evening.
Mikie Sherrill's office did not respond to requests for comment, and a Trenton source said flags at the state Capitol also remained full-staff by midday.
Joe Pennacchio, a Republican state senator, said he formally asked Sherrill earlier this week to lower the flags and accused her administration of politicizing a nonpartisan tribute.
Delaware and Pennsylvania lowered flags in line with the proclamation, while New York and Virginia also appeared to keep official flag status at full-staff.
The dispute has widened into a broader test of bipartisan norms after Graham's death, with New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker publicly praising his cross-party work on criminal justice reform.