The Different Drummer

A Tale Of Two Presidents

As he prepares for his second inauguration, Trump’s actions in the wake of Carter’s death provided a sharp contrast between the two leaders.

“President Jimmy Carter… was a truly good man and, of course, will be greatly missed. He was also very consequential, far more than most Presidents, after he left the Oval Office.”

– Donald Trump

Despite having been one of the few Presidents to fail in an attempt to get re-elected, Jimmy Carter was perhaps the ultimate example of what a successful post-presidency looks like. Following through with his promise to “not use his subsequent public life to enrich himself,” he returned to his peanut farm in Plains, Georgia. After leaving office, Carter engaged in “building houses [with Habitat for Humanity], eradicating disease, brokering ceasefires, [and] monitoring elections.” His death at the age of 100 during the run-up to Trump’s second inauguration provides a contrast between the two men.

In contrast to Carter’s humility, Trump has complained about the inconvenient timing of Carter’s death will have on his inaugural festivities. As proclaimed by Dwight Eisenhower in 1954:

“The flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions for the period indicated upon the death of…the President or a former President for thirty days from the day of death.”

Accordingly, flags are scheduled to remain at half-staff until January 28th, a period that will include Trump’s second inauguration, a coincidence that has enraged the convicted felon as he prepares to take office again:

“The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at ‘half mast’ during my Inauguration. They think it’s so great, and are so happy about it because, in actuality, they don’t love our Country, they only think about themselves.”