Madison, New Jersey, drew criticism over the weekend after the borough did not lower U.S. flags on government buildings in observance of a presidential proclamation ordering flags at half‑staff to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot while speaking at a Utah campus. Neighboring municipalities in Morris and Union counties did lower flags, and a prominent former NFL player publicly condemned Madison’s action.
Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold, a Madison resident, posted on X that he was "disgusted and saddened by my town (Madison) and my state (New Jersey)," adding that the decision was "wrong on so many levels… as an American husband and father was assassinated for expressing his right to free speech." Mangold tagged New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and the two leading candidates in the state’s upcoming gubernatorial contest, Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli.
Madison officials said the borough was following the State of New Jersey’s daily flag status, which listed the flag at full staff over the weekend. In a statement, Madison said it "condemns all forms of political violence and rejects hate in every form" and that it remains "committed to bringing people together around our shared values and ideals."
Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor told Fox News Digital that his borough had "listened to the President's order" and that flags there remained at half‑staff as of Tuesday. East Hanover officials said the township acted "in accordance with the proclamation," and the city of Summit said it flew the flag at half‑staff at city hall, the library and the community center through Sunday.
The presidential proclamation called for the United States flag to be flown at half‑staff from Wednesday, Sept. 10, through Sept. 14. It followed the killing of Kirk, 31, who was struck by a single bullet during a campus event at Utah Valley University and later pronounced dead; 22‑year‑old Tyler Robinson of Utah was arrested as a suspect in the case.
Municipal officials noted that state and local governments are not legally bound to comply with presidential proclamations. Morris Plains Mayor Jason Karr told Fox News Digital that his borough did not lower the flag because officials were unaware of the proclamation, saying the borough would have taken immediate action had notification been received. "This unfortunate oversight should not be politicized," Karr said, adding condolences to Kirk’s family and calling for unity.
Fox News Digital said it reached out to Gov. Murphy’s office for comment. Outside New Jersey, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered that state government buildings comply with the proclamation, saying he and his wife were "heartbroken by the assassination and passing of Charlie Kirk" and that "Texas stands with [Kirk’s] family in mourning and in honoring Charlie's enduring legacy."
The dispute in suburban New Jersey highlights uneven municipal responses to federal proclamations and the politicized environment surrounding memorials for public figures. Some local leaders said administrative procedures and notification lapses explained why flags were not lowered, while others framed compliance as an expression of civic mourning. The differing approaches prompted public criticism and debate from residents and public figures over how communities should respond to nationally issued directives in the wake of politically charged violence.
