President Donald Trump was confronted by a reporter on why he hadn't bothered to order flags at half-staff for the murder of former Democratic Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, as he did after right-wing youth activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at Utah Valley University last week.
But Trump initially appeared not to recognize the lawmaker's name.
"Do you think it would have been fitting to lower the flags for Melissa Hortman who was killed as well?" asked a reporter.
"Uh, I’m not familiar, who?" asked Trump.
When Trump was reminded who Hortman was and what had happened to her, Trump said, "Well if the governor had asked me to do that, I would have done that. But the governor of Minnesota didn't ask me. I didn't. I wouldn't have thought of that. But I would have, if somebody had asked me ... Had the governor of Minnesota asked me to do that, I would have done that, gladly."
At the time of Hortman's murder, Trump pointedly refused to get on the phone to call Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who had run on the Democratic ticket as vice presidential nominee against him the year before. “I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out, I’m not calling him. Why would I call him?” Trump told reporters on Air Force One when questioned.
The killing of Kirk prompted nationwide horror and a slapdash manhunt that ultimately brought in a suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson. The motive for the killing remains unclear, as investigators continue their work.
