President Trump on Monday defended not ordering U.S. flags lowered to half-staff after the assassination of a Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker this summer, saying the governor did not ask.
The president’s remark came during an unrelated Oval Office event on Monday. There, he was asked about his decision to lower flags after last week’s assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, but not for Minnesota Rep. Melissa Hortman (D), according to multiple news reports.
“Well, if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that, but the governor of Minnesota didn’t ask me,” Trump said without naming Gov. Tim Walz (D), who was the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in the last election.
“I wouldn’t have thought of that. But I would have if somebody had asked me,” Trump said, according to The Associated Press, adding, “Had the governor asked me to do that, I would have done that gladly.”
In response, Walz spokesperson Claire Lancaster told the AP on Monday night that “Governor Walz wishes that President Trump would be a President for all Americans.”
Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in June. Hortman, 55, was a prominent lawmaker, serving as state House speaker for six years of her more than two decades in office.
State Sen. John Hoffman (D) and his wife were also shot multiple times in what officials said was a “politically motivated” attack.
Trump, after the attacks, condemned them, writing in a Truth Social post, “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America.” However, Trump also refused to call Walz to express his condolences, saying it would only “waste time.”
“I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling,” Trump told reporters in June. “Why would I call him?”
In the wake of Kirk’s killing, the president has been ramping up his attacks on the left, even as both parties have fallen victim to attacks perpetrated by those with opposing ideologies.
On Wednesday, 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, who was killed in a shooting at Utah Valley University. Flags remained lowered until sunset on Sunday.
In addition to government buildings, Eric Trump announced flags would be flown at half-staff at all Trump Organization properties in honor of Kirk.
