Trump Addresses Flag-Lowering Decisions for Slain Lawmakers

President Trump has addressed the differing decisions to lower U.S. flags to half-staff following the deaths of Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman and conservative activist Charlie Kirk. During an Oval Office event on Monday, Trump stated that he did not order flags lowered after Hortman's assassination in June because Minnesota Governor Tim Walz did not request it. He remarked, "Well, if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that, but the governor of Minnesota didn't ask me." In contrast, Trump ordered flags to half-staff after Kirk's recent assassination, following a request from Utah's governor. Governor Walz's spokesperson, Claire Lancaster, responded, "Governor Walz wishes that President Trump would be a President for all Americans." Hortman, 55, served as state House speaker for six years during her over two decades in office. Following her death, Trump condemned the violence, stating on Truth Social, "Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America." However, he declined to call Governor Walz to express condolences, saying it would "waste time." After Kirk's killing, Trump directed that flags at all government buildings and military stations be lowered to half-staff to honor the co-founder of Turning Point USA.