Politics in 2025 and 2026 has been a whirlwind of tragedy and high-stakes symbolism. One of the biggest questions that keeps popping up in group chats and news feeds is whether Donald Trump lowered the flags for Melissa Hortman.
If you're looking for a simple "yes" or "no," the answer is a bit complicated. Donald Trump did not order national flags to be lowered for Melissa Hortman. While flags were indeed lowered in her honor, the order came from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, not the White House. This distinction became a major flashpoint during the summer and fall of 2025, especially after Trump ordered a national half-staff proclamation for a different figure, sparking a massive debate about political favoritism and the protocol of mourning.
The Tragedy that Shook Minnesota
To understand why everyone is talking about flags, we have to look back at the events of June 14, 2025.
Melissa Hortman was a giant in Minnesota politics. She served as the Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2019 to 2025, steering the state through some of its most transformative legislative sessions. Early that Saturday morning, Hortman and her husband, Mark, were assassinated in their home in Brooklyn Park.
The attacker, who was later identified as Vance Luther Boelter, reportedly impersonated a police officer to gain entry. The violence didn't stop there; State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were also targeted and wounded in a nearby town. Governor Walz described the event as a "politically motivated assassination."
In the immediate wake of the tragedy, Governor Walz did exactly what you’d expect a governor to do. He issued an executive order for all United States and Minnesota flags to fly at half-staff at all state buildings.
Why Didn't Trump Order a National Lowering?
The controversy really kicked off three months later, in September 2025.
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On September 10, 2025, right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Almost immediately, President Trump issued a national proclamation ordering flags to be flown at half-staff across the entire country to honor Kirk.
Naturally, reporters in the Oval Office noticed the difference in treatment. On September 15, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes asked Trump why he hadn't done the same for Melissa Hortman back in June.
His response was classic Trump. He leaned across the Resolute Desk and honestly seemed confused. He said he was "not familiar" with who she was. After being reminded she was the Minnesota House Speaker who had been gunned down, he basically shifted the blame.
"Well, if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that," Trump told reporters. "I wouldn't have thought of that, but I would've, if somebody had asked me."
He went on to say that the White House gets a ton of requests for flag lowerings and "oftentimes you have to say no, because it would be a lot of lowering."
The "Waste of Time" Feud
This wasn't just about a missed memo or a lack of familiarity. The relationship between Trump and Tim Walz was, to put it lightly, a total wreck.
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Back in June, right after the shooting, Trump was asked on Air Force One if he planned to call Walz to offer his condolences. He didn't hold back. He called Walz "whacked out" and said calling him would be a "waste of time."
The Minnesota Governor's office fired back, with a spokesperson stating that Walz wished Trump would be a "president for all Americans." This bickering is essentially why no formal request ever made it from St. Paul to Washington D.C.
Understanding Flag Protocol: Who Can Lower the Flag?
There’s a lot of confusion about who actually has the power to move that rope on the flagpole. It’s governed by the U.S. Flag Code, though in reality, it’s more about tradition and executive discretion.
- The President: Has the authority to order flags to half-staff for the death of "principal figures" of the government and "other officials or foreign dignitaries." They can also order it for national tragedies or as a mark of respect for anyone they deem worthy.
- Governors: Can order the flag to be lowered in their own state to honor a current or former state official or a member of the armed forces from that state who died in the line of duty.
So, when Governor Walz lowered the flags for Hortman, he was well within his rights for the state of Minnesota. For those flags to go down in Florida, California, or Maine, it would have required a proclamation from Trump.
Other States Stepped In
Interestingly, some other leaders didn't wait for a federal order. In September 2025, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson directed flags in his state to be lowered. He explicitly mentioned Melissa Hortman and her husband as victims of political violence who deserved the honor, even though they weren't from Washington.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown followed suit. It became a way for blue-state leaders to show solidarity after the White House remained silent on the Hortman tragedy while being very vocal about Charlie Kirk.
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Why This Debate Still Matters
The question of whether Trump lowered the flags for Melissa Hortman isn't just about a piece of fabric. It’s about who we decide to mourn as a nation.
Critics of the former president argue that by honoring a partisan activist like Kirk but claiming ignorance about a long-serving Speaker of a State House, he was signaling that some lives are more "American" than others. On the flip side, Trump's supporters argue that it’s the Governor’s job to handle state-level tragedies and that the President shouldn't be expected to track every local crime.
What You Should Know Now
If you are looking for the truth in the middle of all the political noise, here are the bedrock facts:
- Fact: Melissa Hortman was honored with half-staff flags in Minnesota by Governor Tim Walz.
- Fact: Donald Trump did not issue a federal order for her.
- Fact: Trump claimed he would have done it if Walz had asked, but he also admitted he didn't know who she was at the time.
- Fact: The suspect in the Hortman killing, Vance Boelter, was part of a larger pattern of political violence that has plagued the mid-2020s.
If you're interested in keeping track of current flag status to ensure you're following the correct protocol for your home or business, you can check the official Flag Code guidelines or your specific state's government website. Most states have an email alert system that lets you know exactly when and why the flags are being moved. For federal updates, the White House Briefing Room is the primary source for all presidential proclamations regarding national mourning.
To see the current status of flags in your area, you should check your state's official government portal, as they often deviate from federal orders to honor local heroes.