Trump Orders Flags to Half-Staff to Honor Senator Lindsey Graham
Trump directs all American flags lowered until Saturday evening in tribute to the South Carolina senator he calls a dear friend.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump ordered all American flags across the United States lowered to half-staff to honor Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican he called a dear friend and a truly great man.
The directive keeps flags lowered until Saturday evening at 6 p.m., Trump said in the tribute posted on Truth Social. He praised Graham for what he described as decades of service to the nation and to his home state of South Carolina.
Here is the full post on Truth Social: “In honor of the remarkable life and achievements of Senator Lindsey Graham, a dear friend of mine, and a truly great man, who achieved so much for our Country, and his beloved Home State of South Carolina, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half Mast until Saturday evening at 6 P.M. GOD BLESS YOU LINDSEY! Trump” on July 12, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET.
This is the first message released by Trump today. On average, Trump produces about 17 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025.
The order carries symbolic weight across every federal building, military post, and state capitol that follows presidential flag directives. Governors and agency heads typically comply within hours of such a proclamation, meaning the gesture reaches Americans in nearly every town square and post office.
Graham, one of the Senate’s longest-serving members from South Carolina, built a national profile on foreign policy and judicial confirmations. His close ties to Trump made him a frequent presence at the White House and on the campaign trail, and the tribute reflects a personal bond that outlasted earlier political disagreements between the two men.
For the average reader, a half-staff order changes little in daily life beyond the sight of a lowered flag. It serves as a public marker of mourning, prompting moments of reflection at schools, courthouses, and federal offices until the designated hour passes.
Has this happened before? It has. Presidents routinely order flags lowered to honor deceased lawmakers, and Trump has issued similar proclamations during his terms, including tributes for former officials and public figures. The practice follows longstanding federal flag customs that grant the president authority over such displays.
The next step rests with governors and federal agency heads, who will confirm compliance and set the timing for raising the flags again. Trump’s order specifies Saturday evening at 6 p.m. as the endpoint, so no further decision date has been announced.
Orders to lower the flag in tribute to a departed statesman follow a tradition stretching back generations. When Senator John McCain of Arizona died in August 2018, flags nationwide came down, and the timing of the gesture drew national attention. Such proclamations have long ranked among the most visible ways a president marks the passing of a figure who shaped the nation’s course.
In the last 30 days, 21 of 510 Trump posts focused on personal praise, greetings, and tributes.
Source: Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Note: Chart generated on July 12, 2026 at 4:05 PM ET
Source: Zenger analysis
Note: Table generated by https://zenger.news on July 12, 2026 at 4:04 PM ET