Trump Reportedly Declined Mayor’s Request to Lower Flags in Memory of Capital Gazette Victims

In the wake of the horrific Capital Gazette shooting last week, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley requested President Donald Trump order American flags to be lowered to half-staff in memory of the victims.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan ordered the state flags lowered on Friday.

But Buckley told The Baltimore Sun days ago, “It’s not as noticeable when a state flag is down but you still have your main flags at full mast… I’m not saying that he’s [Trump] denying it, but it might not be a priority.”

But today, the President reportedly reached a decision:

President Donald Trump has declined a request from Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley to lower American flags in honor of the fatal shooting of five employees of The Capital newspaper last week.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed, you know? … Is there a cutoff for tragedy?” Buckley said Monday afternoon. “This was an attack on the press. It was an attack on freedom of speech. It’s just as important as any other tragedy.”

White house just denied flags going at half staff for Capital Gazette killings.

— Selene San Felice (@selenecapgaz) July 2, 2018

President Trump spoke on the shooting in brief remarks on Friday and said, “This attack shocked the conscience of our nation and filled our hearts with grief. Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job. To the families of the victims, there are no words to express our sorrow for your loss.”

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

from Mediaite https://ift.tt/2MKcmJg