It's a sight that instantly changes the mood of a street or a government building. You’re driving to work, look up, and there it is—the Stars and Stripes sitting halfway down the pole. It’s a silent, heavy signal of national mourning. Most recently, the news that Trump orders flags at half mast has hit the headlines again, specifically regarding the tragic events in Minneapolis and the shocking death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Honestly, it’s one of those presidential powers people sort of understand but don't really know the "why" or "how" behind. It isn't just about sadness. It’s a formal legal protocol governed by a specific set of rules called the U.S. Flag Code.
The Recent Orders: Minneapolis and Charlie Kirk
In late August 2025, a horrific shooting at the Annunciation Catholic Church and school in Minneapolis left the community shattered. It was a "senseless act of violence," as the proclamation put it. President Trump didn't wait long. He issued a formal order for all American flags at federal buildings, military posts, and even embassies abroad to be lowered until sunset on August 31.
Then came September. The shooting of Charlie Kirk, the CEO of Turning Point USA, at a university in Utah sparked another immediate order. Trump labeled him a "Great American Patriot" and directed flags to stay at half-staff through a Sunday evening.
These aren't just "gestures." When a president signs these proclamations, it sets a massive logistics chain in motion. Thousands of federal employees across the globe have to physically go out and move those flags. It’s a big deal.
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How the Process Actually Works
You can't just lower a flag whenever you feel like it. Well, a private citizen can, I guess, but for the government, it’s strictly regulated.
Basically, the President of the United States and the Governors of states are the only ones who can officially order the flag to be lowered for the whole country or a specific state. There’s a specific "way" to do it too. You don't just pull it halfway up. You have to hoist it to the very peak for an instant first, then lower it slowly to the half-staff position. When you take it down for the night, you have to hoist it back to the top again before lowering it all the way.
Who gets this honor?
- Presidents and Former Presidents: 30 days of mourning.
- Vice Presidents, Chief Justices, and House Speakers: 10 days.
- Associate Justices and Cabinet Members: From the day of death until burial.
- Mass Tragedies: This is the "discretionary" part where the president decides the nation needs to grieve collectively.
The History of Trump and the Flag Code
Looking back at his first term, Trump used this power quite a bit. One of the most significant moments was in May 2020. As the U.S. neared the grim milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, Trump ordered flags at half-mast for three days to remember those lost to the "CoronaVirus."
He also used it for:
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- Police Officers: He frequently ordered flags lowered for fallen law enforcement, like the shooting of five officers in Dallas (which happened just before his first term but set the tone for his respect for the "Blue").
- Notable Figures: Like the passing of Senator John McCain or Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, despite political differences.
- Mass Shootings: From Las Vegas to Parkland, the flag was lowered repeatedly during those years.
The Power of the Proclamation
There is a bit of a misconception that the flag at half-staff is a "law" everyone must follow. Kinda. If you’re a federal building, yes, it’s mandatory. If you’re a private business or a homeowner? It’s a suggestion. Most people do it out of respect, but the Flag Code is technically a set of guidelines for civilians, not a law with penalties.
The president's authority comes from Proclamation 3044, signed by Eisenhower back in 1954. It centralized the power so we didn't have different agencies doing different things. It made the mourning "national."
Why It Matters Right Now
In 2025 and 2026, we’ve seen a rise in political violence. Whether it's a school shooting or the targeting of a political figure, the act of lowering the flag is meant to be a unifying moment. However, in our current climate, even this is scrutinized. Some critics argue about who gets the honor. When Trump orders flags at half mast for someone like Charlie Kirk, it sparks a debate that a shooting of a private citizen shouldn't necessarily trigger a national mourning period usually reserved for high-ranking officials or victims of mass tragedies.
But the President has the legal "veto" on that. If he deems a person or event of national significance, the flag goes down.
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Practical Tips for Flag Owners
If you have a flagpole at home and want to follow these orders, here is what you should do:
- Sign up for alerts: There are websites like
halfstaff.orgthat send emails the second an order is issued. - The "Mourning Ribbon" trick: If your flag is attached to a wall (the kind that doesn't slide up and down), you shouldn't try to "half-mast" it. Instead, you attach two black ribbons to the top of the flag. They should be about the same width as the stripes.
- Follow the timing: Usually, the order says "until sunset." Make sure you're out there to raise it back up before you take it down for the evening.
It’s about more than just cloth and rope. It’s a visual representation of the country's collective pulse. Whether you agree with the politics or not, seeing the flag at half-staff is a reminder that something significant has happened, and for a moment, the nation is being asked to pause.
Moving Forward
If you want to stay compliant with the latest federal orders, keep an eye on the official White House "Briefing Room" or "Presidential Actions" page. That is where the official text is posted first. If you see the flag down at your local post office, it’s a safe bet the order is active.
Check your local state governor’s website too. Sometimes they order flags down for a local hero or a state legislator even when the president hasn't issued a national order. In those cases, only the flags in your state go down.