A sign shaming the city of West Hollywood for following the president’s order to lower flags in honor of conservative speaker Charlie Kirk condemned the action.
The Progress Flag and Transgender Flag at Matthew Shepard Human Rights Triangle were lowered under the direction of President Donald Trump, who on Wednesday ordered flags at “all public buildings and grounds” to be at half-staff through sunset on Sunday in Kirk’s memory. In response to the city following suit, a sign that reads, “Shame on West Hollywood for lowering our flags in honoring a racist, transphobic, homophobic, nazi-loving monster,” was posted at the plaza.
In response to the criticism, city officials said the action doesn’t reflect solidarity with Kirk, but comes as an order from the president.
“We will follow the directive of the president when it comes to how we recognize the U.S. flag, and this is a policy that has been long established in the city on the books, prior to this administration,” West Hollywood Mayor Chelsea Byers said.
Following pushback from some concerned community members, however, Byers said the city is looking into their policy on half-staff flags.
Tyler Robinson has become more political in recent years, officials said. Conan Nolan reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025.
“We have to look at this policy and see what other flexibility and discretion we are able to bring, knowing that the president is going to use this policy to honor people that may not be consistent with the values of this city and the impact that it has on individuals here,” the mayor said.
Kirk, a conservative speaker who promoted traditional ideology that was often in contrast to the LGBTQ+ community, was shot to death on Wednesday during an event at Utah Valley University. On Friday, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson was arrested on suspicion of shooting Kirk.