Trump orders flags lowered for slain newspaper staffers

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued a proclamation Tuesday ordering flags flown at half-staff on federal buildings to honor the five victims of The Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis, Md., the White House said.

The decision follows a request over the weekend by Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley, which he said was initially not granted.

White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said the decision was made Monday night “as soon as the president heard about the request from the mayor.”

She said that White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders spoke with Buckley on Monday night and Tuesday morning to alert him to the decision.

In an interview earlier Monday with the Capital newspaper, Buckley said he was disappointed to hear that his request would not be honored. “Obviously, I’m disappointed . ... Is there a cutoff for tragedy?” Buckley said. “This was an attack on the press. It was an attack on freedom of speech. It’s just as important as any other tragedy.”

Four journalists and a sales associate were killed in the attack Thursday that police said was carried out by Jarrod Ramos, 38, who had threatened employees of the paper before.

“Our Nation shares the sorrow of those affected by the shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland,” Trump said in the proclamation issued Tuesday. “Americans across the country are united in calling upon God to be with the victims and to bring aid and comfort to their families and friends.”

The proclamation ordered the flag at half-staff at the White House and all other federal buildings and grounds for one day. It also ordered the flag at halfstaff at U.S. embassies, military facilities and other facilities abroad.