Newsom Orders US Flags Be Raised For Trump’s Inauguration

It seems California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken a break from lecturing the rest of the country to make a rather surprising move: ordering U.S. flags to be raised to full-staff on Inauguration Day as Donald Trump takes the oath of office. Yes, you read that right. Newsom, the darling of the progressive left, has decided—for once—to align with Republican governors across the country on a patriotic gesture. Shocking, isn’t it?

According to his spokesperson, Izzy Gardon, Newsom will issue the directive to ensure the flags are raised on January 20, only to lower them back to half-staff the next day in honor of the late Jimmy Carter. This unusual decision places Newsom in the same camp as GOP heavyweights like Ron DeSantis, Greg Abbott, and Kim Reynolds, all of whom also plan to raise the flags to full-staff for the day. It’s almost like Newsom woke up and decided, “Maybe I should look reasonable for a change.”

But let’s not get carried away applauding him. This announcement comes on the heels of his latest public spat with Donald Trump, who called out the California governor’s disastrous wildfire prevention policies after yet another round of devastating fires swept through Southern California. Trump didn’t mince words, accusing Newsom of refusing to approve water restoration measures that could have helped prevent such catastrophic damage. In true Newsom fashion, he dismissed the criticism with a smug rebuttal about water policy, conveniently glossing over the fact that California continues to be a blazing inferno under his watch.

It’s worth noting that Trump isn’t wrong to suggest that Democrats like Newsom have a problem with the American flag—or, more broadly, with what it represents. Trump’s comments on Truth Social perfectly capture the sentiment of many Americans: “Nobody wants to see the American flag at half-staff during the inauguration… They don’t love our country. They only think about themselves.” And really, who can argue with that? The left has spent years undermining the flag as a symbol of unity, choosing instead to rewrite the national narrative into one of division and victimhood.

So what’s Newsom’s angle here? Let’s face it: this isn’t about patriotism. It’s about optics. Newsom knows that his handling of California’s wildfires and water policy is under fire—no pun intended. By aligning with Republican governors on something as symbolic as flag protocol, he’s trying to polish his image as a “uniter,” hoping voters will forget his endless parade of failures. It’s a PR move, plain and simple. After all, this is the same guy who preaches about climate change while jetting off to Montana for family vacations and dining maskless at the French Laundry.

Let’s also not ignore the broader context. While Newsom may be raising flags to full-staff for a day, California remains in a downward spiral under his leadership. From skyrocketing homelessness to businesses fleeing the state in droves, the so-called “Golden State” has become a case study in how progressive policies fail in the real world. And don’t even get started on the state’s tax burden, which continues to squeeze hardworking families dry. No amount of flag-raising theater is going to distract from the dumpster fire that is California.

So sure, let’s give Gavin Newsom a polite nod for doing the right thing—for once. But let’s not forget what’s really going on here. This is damage control, not leadership. Newsom is desperately trying to play nice with Republicans for a single day, hoping it will score him some political points. But actions speak louder than flagpoles, and Newsom’s track record tells us everything we need to know.