Whoopi Goldberg hits at Trump on half-mast flags rant, says Jimmy Carter didn't die to 'mess up' his day

WASHINGTON, DC: The hosts of 'The View', particularly Whoopi Goldberg, took aim at Donald Trump after his criticism of flags being flown at half-staff during his inauguration to honor the death of Jimmy Carter.

President-elect Donald Trump on Friday, January 3, blasted Democrats as “giddy” that, at the time of his inauguration, flags are set to be at half-staff.

Whoopi Goldberg tells Donald Trump, 'It ain’t always about you'

Whoopi Goldberg criticized Donald Trump for politicizing Jimmy Carter’s death, saying he should not view the tribute as an attempt to ruin his day.

"Sir? This was one of our presidents. He didn’t intend to die and mess up your day," Goldberg said.

"That was not a choice. This is what happened. So you have to just understand, this is how life works. It ain’t always about you, sir. It ain’t always about you," Goldberg continued.

She added that Carter’s legacy deserves respect, even if opinions about his presidency varied. "Let that flag do what it needs to do and celebrate this man’s life. That’s my two cents," 'The View' host added.

Why is Donald Trump upset at flags flying half-staff?

Following former president Jimmy Carter's death on 29 December 2024 at the age of 100, the flags were lowered to half-staff to pay tribute to him.

The White House announced they’ll remain that way for 30 days after Carter’s death. 

That roughly monthlong period will intersect with Trump’s January 20 inauguration.

“The Democrats are all ‘giddy’ about our magnificent American Flag potentially being at ‘half mast’ during my Inauguration," the president-elect wrote on Truth Social.

"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,” Trump claimed.

He said that “nobody wants to see this, and no American can be happy about it.”

Ana Navarro admits she 'vehemently' disagreed with Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy

'The View' co-host Ana Navarro 'vehemently' disagreed with the late Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy. However, keeping it aside, she praised Carter’s character and contributions after leaving office. 

Sara Haines offered another perspective, suggesting that Trump might be reacting to the optics of the situation rather than the tribute itself.

"Not to make light of this, but I think that he sees the joke in the half fly — it’s about Jimmy Carter’s passing, and that’s tragic," Haines said as per The Wrap.

"There are also 75 million people who voted for Vice President Harris that may also be mourning when he comes into office," she added.

"So I think the optics — it might be really wearing on him. I think that’s what it is, he’s in on the joke," Haines said.

Carter’s state funeral will take place at Washington National Cathedral on January 9. Joe Biden is expected to deliver one of the eulogies, and Trump has said he’ll attend.