President Donald Trump ordered American flags across the United States and at U.S. diplomatic and military facilities abroad to be flown at half-staff following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Trump issued the directive Wednesday in an official proclamation that said the flags should be flown at half-staff "as a mark of respect for the memory of Charlie Kirk" until sunset on Sept. 14, 2025. Earlier on Wednesday, Trump had posted on Truth Social that he was ordering flags lowered "until Sunday evening at 6 P.M." and called Kirk "a truly Great American Patriot."
Kirk, 31, the founder of the conservative group Turning Point USA, was shot in the neck while speaking at an event Wednesday at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, and later died, authorities said. Utah officials told reporters investigators believe the fatal shot may have come from a roof near the venue, and law enforcement agencies were continuing a search for suspects and evidence.
The proclamation directed that flags at the White House, all public buildings and grounds, military posts and naval stations, and all U.S. embassies, legations and consular offices be lowered in Kirk’s honor. The U.S. Department of Agriculture posted footage showing an American flag at half-staff outside its headquarters. Images taken Wednesday showed the large flags flanking the White House lowered at the president’s direction.
Trump expressed condolences to Kirk’s family on Truth Social, saying, "No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us. Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife Erika, and family. Charlie, we love you!" He also posted, "The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead."
State officials also ordered flags lowered. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox directed U.S. and Utah state flags to be lowered on all state facilities and invited private citizens and organizations to join in honoring Kirk by lowering flags. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he had ordered flags in that state lowered "to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of Charlie Kirk."
The shooting drew immediate attention from national political figures and prompted moments of silence at public events. A brief pause was observed at the New York Yankees game on Wednesday night, when the scoreboard displayed a tribute during pregame observances.
Kirk founded Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization that has been influential on college campuses and in conservative political circles. He was a frequent commentator on conservative media and a vocal supporter of Republican causes.
Investigators in Utah said they were treating the case as an assassination and were pursuing leads about the origin of the gunfire. Officials have not released details about suspects or a motive as the investigation continued.
The flag order follows longstanding federal practice that allows the president to direct flags to be flown at half-staff to honor prominent Americans or mourn national tragedies. The proclamation called for the flag-lowering to extend to U.S. territories and possessions as well as federal facilities overseas.
As officials continued their investigation and authorities worked to secure the scene and review evidence, state and federal leaders moved quickly to publicly mark Kirk’s death through the flag-lowering and public statements of condolence.