Why is the flag lowered to half-mast today? Trump’s big announcement after Sen. Lindsey Graham’s sudden death
On Sunday (July 12), the United States woke up and South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham suddenly die. The 71-year-old’s death shocked Trump, who considered Graham a “good friend.”
So much so that the President of the United States declared a nationwide mourning for the late senator. Hours after his death, Trump ordered flag Flags at state government buildings across the United States are flying at half-staff until Saturday (July 18) as the nation mourns the death of Senator Lindsey Graham.
Therefore, many people in the United States can expect to see flags flying at half-mast on state buildings and certain private buildings by 6 pm local time on Saturday, July 18.
Trump’s statement on flying flags at half-mast
Trump expressed condolences over the death of his “dear friend” Lindsey Graham in two separate Truth Social Posts. In the first post, Trump gave his first public reaction to the news of Graham’s death, calling Graham a “great American patriot.” In a follow-up post, he announced seven days of national mourning.
“In honor of the extraordinary life and achievements of Senator Lindsey Graham, a dear friend and a truly great man who accomplished so much for our country and his beloved home state of South Carolina, I am ordering all American flags across the United States to be flown at half-staff until 6 p.m. Saturday,” Trump wrote.
Flags are flown at half-mast, a common practice in mourning across the country. Under U.S. flag law, the announcement can be made if a “national leader” dies.
The term “national leader” may include the president, former president, vice president, chief justice, speaker of the House, members of Congress, governors, or other high-ranking officials. Lindsey Graham qualifies because he is a former senator and congressman.
What happened to Lindsey Graham?
Lindsey Graham’s death has sparked multiple conspiracy theories, especially since he died suddenly on the day he returned from an official visit to Ukraine. His office claimed he died of a “sudden illness” but did not specify what happened to him.
Later, Sen. Lindsey Graham’s office announced his cause of deathproviding more details of what happened to the 71-year-old. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s cause of death was a torn aorta caused by cardiovascular disease, according to his office. The official cause of death cited by the office was “aortic dissection due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.”
