West Hollywood faced swift backlash after lowering its flags to half-staff in response to a presidential proclamation honoring Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated during a campus event at Utah Valley University last week. The proclamation issued on Sept. 10, 2025 directed the U.S. flag on public buildings and grounds to be lowered to half-staff to pay tribute to Kirk. The city also lowered the Transgender Flag and Pride Progress Flag at Matthew Shepard Square, a move that drew renewed criticism.
West Hollywood defended the action in a statement to WeHo Times saying the move was not an endorsement of Kirk s views and was taken under the City s Policy for Recognitions and Memorials which directs flags to follow the Presidents lead. The city added that the decision reflects ongoing dialogue about how to reflect community values and that the City Council will discuss the issue in coming weeks and consider updates to the policy.
In Madison, New Jersey residents criticized the decision to not lower flags. The Borough of Madison defended its policy to follow the State of New Jersey s daily flag status which kept flags at full staff. The Madison statement said it condemns political violence and rejects hate in every form and remains committed to bringing people together around shared values.
The incident underscores the ongoing debate over how local governments use symbols to respond to national events. Some communities choose to comply with presidential proclamations while others follow state or local policies, and the policy framework often leaves room for interpretation by local officials. West Hollywood plans to revisit its policy in the coming weeks as part of the council discussion.
This case highlights the broader tensions in US politics over symbolism and local governance in the wake of a national tragedy. As officials prepare for a possible policy update, residents and observers watch how cities balance respect for national proclamations with community values and local policy requirements.