Donald Trump has found himself facing harsh criticism after a recent interview showed his very different responses to political violence. When a reporter asked about lowering flags for Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was killed in June 2025, Trump said he was “not familiar” with her case. The moment has made many people angry about what they see as unfair treatment based on politics.
The problem started when Trump quickly ordered flags to fly at half staff after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025. Trump put out an official order the same day Kirk died, calling him “a truly Great American Patriot” and saying flags should stay lowered until September 14. But he did nothing like this when Hortman and her husband were killed three months earlier in what police called a political attack.
The angry reactions to Trump’s response have been harsh, with one X user writing “What an evil piece of garbage Donald Trump is. You can’t hate him and MAGA enough.” Another person called him “an absolute shameful disgrace” and said he was “useless, worthless, lying, moronic, amoral.” The clear difference has led many to accuse Trump of treating political violence differently based on whether victims are Democrats or Republicans.
Trump’s unequal treatment shows concerning pattern
Melissa Hortman, 55, was the former Speaker of the Minnesota House and a well-known Democratic leader. She and her husband Mark were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park on June 14, 2025, by Vance Boelter. The same man also shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, though they lived. Police found a hit list in Boelter’s car with nearly 70 names, including people who support abortion rights. The 57-year-old was later arrested and charged with murder and stalking.
Even though the attack was clearly political, Trump showed no public respect for Hortman’s death. When the shootings happened, Trump called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz “whacked out” and said he would not call because “Why waste time?”
The difference becomes even more obvious when you look at who the victims were. Hortman was an elected official who served her community for over 20 years and pushed for things like abortion rights, gun safety laws, and programs to help children. Kirk was influential among conservatives as the founder of Turning Point USA, but he never held elected office and was primarily a podcaster. Yet he got immediate presidential recognition and a promise of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
This pattern shows Trump’s long history of problematic responses to serious, sensitive issues, especially when they involve Democrats or people who oppose his political agenda and ambitions.
Published: Sep 16, 2025 05:14 am