President Donald Trump’s response to a question about why he did not order flags lowered to half-staff in June following the assassination of a Democratic lawmaker has sparked anger on social media.
During an Oval Office briefing on Monday, a reporter asked about Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman, who was killed alongside her husband, following Trump’s order to lower flags after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Wednesday.
“Given all of the moving ways that this White House has paid tribute to Charlie Kirk, do you think it would have been fitting to lower the flags to half-staff when Melissa Hortman, the Minnesota House speaker, was gunned down by an assassin as well?” Nancy Cordes, the chief White House correspondent for CBS News, asked Trump.
“I’m not familiar. The who?” the president replied.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for further comment via an email sent outside regular business hours.
Why It Matters
Kirk was fatally shot while speaking at Utah Valley University on September 10. Before a suspect was apprehended or a motive determined, Trump blamed the “radical left” for Kirk’s killing and pledged to crack down on those who “contributed to this atrocity.” Conservatives have since pushed for anyone celebrating the killing to face consequences. “The problem is on the left. It’s not on the right,” Trump told reporters on Sunday.
While Hortman was not as well known as Kirk, the president and other conservatives have continued to blame the left for a rise in political violence while largely ignoring attacks against Democrats. Minnesota state Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot multiple times in the shooting spree that killed Hortman and her husband. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home faced an arson attack earlier this year, and in 2022, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was beaten in their home.
What To Know
On social media, Democrats have expressed outrage over the president’s response, with one commentator describing Trump’s remarks as “shameful.”
After Cordes told Trump who Hortman was, he suggested that he would have ordered flags lowered if Minnesota Governor Tim Walz had asked him to, though he did not name the governor.
“Well, if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that,” the president said.
He added: “I wouldn’t have thought of that, but I would’ve if somebody had asked me. People make requests for the lowering of the flag, and oftentimes you have to say no because it would be a lot of lowering. The flag would never be up.”
Days after Hortman’s assassination, Trump told reporters that he wouldn’t “waste time” calling Walz, who campaigned against him in the 2024 presidential election as then-Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
“Why would I call him? I could call and say, ‘Hi, how you doing?’ Uh, the guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess. I could be nice and call, but why waste time?” Trump said.
Following Trump’s latest remarks, many have accused him of having a double standard.
What People Are Saying
Harry Sisson, a Democrat and social media influencer, wrote on X: “Every major Democrat has condemned the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Not even two months later, Trump says ‘who?’ in response to a question about Melissa Hortman. F****** shameful. RIP Melissa Hortman.”
Ed Krassenstein, a progressive commentator, wrote on X: “Imagine if any Democrat were to ask “who was Charlie Kirk?” RIP Melissa Hortman. You will not be forgotten even though Trump wants you to be.”
MeidasTouch, a media company that is often critical of the president, wrote on X: “What a sick and evil individual. The Trump regime’s comments in the past few days should be viewed as one of the greatest scandals of our time.”
What Happens Next
Tyler Robinson, the 22-year-old arrested in connection with Kirk’s shooting, is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Authorities may bring formal charges against him at that time, and investigators may release more information about the suspect and a motive.