Donald Trump is facing mounting criticism after his dismissive comments regarding the assassination of Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman, especially when compared to his high-profile tribute to conservative figure Charlie Kirk.

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Trump’s Immediate Response to Charlie Kirk

Last week, conservative spokesperson Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at Utah Valley University. Following the attack, Trump quickly ordered the U.S. flag to be flown at half-staff “as a mark of respect for the memory of Charlie Kirk.”

Because of this public gesture, many supporters praised Trump for honoring Kirk. However, critics immediately pointed out that the same respect had not been extended to victims on the other side of the political spectrum.

The Assassination of Melissa Hortman

On June 14, Minnesota Democratic Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home by a masked shooter disguised as a police officer. Moreover, the same assailant also shot and wounded Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, shortly before the attack on Hortman.

At the time, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz condemned the back-to-back shootings as a “politically-motivated assassination.” In fact, many Americans saw the attack as part of an alarming rise in politically charged violence.

Trump initially reacted on Truth Social, writing: “Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the U.S.” Nevertheless, when asked if he planned to call Governor Walz, Trump flatly refused.

“I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out. I’m not calling him. Why would I call him? I could call and say, ‘Hi, how you doing?’ Uh, the guy doesn’t have a clue. He’s a mess. I could be nice and call, but why waste time?”

As a result, Trump never reached out to Minnesota officials, did not attend Hortman’s funeral, and crucially, did not lower the flags in her honor.

“The…Who?” — Trump’s Viral Exchange

On Monday, a reporter directly asked Trump if he regretted not lowering the flags for Hortman, just as he had done for Kirk. Shockingly, Trump appeared confused:

“I’m not familiar. The…who?”

When the reporter clarified—“The Minnesota House Speaker, a Democrat, who was assassinated this summer”—Trump quickly shifted tone.

“Oh. Well, if the governor asked me to do that, I would have done that. But the governor of Minnesota didn’t ask me. I didn’t, uh, I wouldn’t have thought of that, but I would’ve, if somebody had asked me. People make requests for the lowering the flag and oftentimes you have to say no because it would be a lot of lowering. The flag would never be up. Had the governor of Minnesota asked me to do that, I would have done that gladly.”

Because of this exchange, social media erupted, with critics accusing Trump of selective compassion.

Social Media Reaction

The clip spread rapidly, and the backlash was swift.

• “Are you kidding me right now,” one viral post read.
• Another argued: “All of a sudden the President isn’t familiar with certain political violence.”
• “This breaks my heart for our country,” another user posted.
• Many compared Trump to Joe Biden, noting: “Trump didn’t even order the flags lowered when she was killed. He refused to call Minnesota leaders, refused to offer condolences, refused to show up at her funeral.” Biden, by contrast, attended Hortman’s funeral.
• On Instagram, one frustrated user asked: “So who ‘requested’ the lowering of the flag for a podcaster??”
• Lastly, another person summed up the disbelief: “What episode of The Twilight Zone are we on!?”

Clearly, the reactions showed widespread anger and confusion across the political spectrum.

Broader Implications

The controversy highlights a larger issue about how leaders choose which tragedies deserve national recognition. On the one hand, supporters argue Trump simply followed established protocol by waiting for a formal request from the governor. On the other hand, critics say his dismissive tone revealed partisan bias and a lack of empathy for Democrats who were targeted in a politically motivated attack.

Moreover, the stark difference between his tribute to Kirk and his neglect of Hortman underscores growing concerns about division in American politics. Therefore, many Americans are left questioning whether respect for victims of violence should ever depend on party lines.