President Trump has been severely criticised for his decision to not lower the American flag to half-mast following the shooting in Annapolis in which some journalists working with the Capital Gazette were shot and killed by a gunman.
Speaking on his disappointment, the Mayor of Annapolis, Gavin Buckley said: “Obviously, I’m disappointed, you know? … Is there a cutoff for tragedy?”
“This was an attack on the press. It was an attack on freedom of speech. It’s just as important as any other tragedy.”
Trump has earlier lowered the American flag after other shootings including in May after the deaths of 10 people at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, and the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in February that left 17 dead.
Mayor Buckley wasn’t the only one outraged by the decision, CNN’s Chris Cuomo had some scathing remarks for the President while on Primetime television where he said: “Why was the Mayor of Annapolis turned down by the White House on his request to lower flags to mark the lives of fallen journalists?
” I am afraid I know the answer. Its because President Trump doesn’t like the media”
Mayor Buckley also decided against lowering the American flags around the city in fears that such a gesture could be a polarizing one
“At this point in time, it would start to polarize people and I don’t want to make people angry,” he said.