President Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. federal property flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of five newspaper journalists slain in Maryland’s capital.
The order comes after Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley said Trump had declined his request to lower the flags on Monday.
Trump issued a proclamation Tuesday ordering the flags be flown at half-staff through sunset.
Five Capital Gazette newspaper employees were killed last Thursday when a gunman with a grudge against the publication shot them in the newsroom. One of those had tight South Florida ties.
Trump repeatedly has called journalists the “enemy of the people.” He said the day after the shooting that journalists should not fear being violently attacked while doing their job.
The White House says Trump ordered the flags be lowered as soon as he learned of the Annapolis mayor’s request.