Trump issues rare order just hours after Minnesota school shooting 'as a mark of respect for the victims'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump ordered that all flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of those who died in a mass shooting at a Minnesota Catholic School.

A shooter named Robin Westman fired through the windows of a church in Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 27, killing two children. Fourteen children and three elderly parishioners were wounded while marking the first week of class at Annunciation Catholic School.

Trump issues order for flag at half-staff following Minnesota school shooting

The White House issued in a statement, "As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on August 27, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds."

The order further read that the flag also be lowered at all "military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, August 31, 2025."

"I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations," the statement added.

It concluded, "IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth."

The statement by the White House came hours after the alleged shooter, Robin Westman, opened fire on the unsuspecting students and teachers of Annunciation Church on early Wednesday, leaving two children dead. Westman was also found dead later, as officials confirmed.

According to Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara, Westman, armed with a pistol, shotgun, and rifle, approached the school on the side of the church and unloaded 100 bullets into the building.

All the children were sitting in pews for an all-school Mass, the cop reported.

Following the incident, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was on the scene and was coordinating with police and parents.

"I'm in touch with Chief O'Hara, and our emergency response team has been activated," the mayor said in a statement.

Minneapolis mourns Catholic school shooting

The Minneapolis community has been deeply affected by the traumatizing Catholic school shooting. Arthur Louie, who grew up a few blocks away from Annunciation church in South Minneapolis, told the Guardian that he was devastated to hear about the shooting, holding back tears as he said he wanted to bring flowers to pay his respects.

He said, "It’s everything. We’re so tied together. Block parties are huge. The community here just gets along so well. Something like this happens, it doesn’t matter what our beliefs are, we’re going to band together."

Police said on Wednesday that they are investigating any potential motives and executing search warrants related to the shooter.

Meanwhile, FBI director Kash Patel said the bureau is "investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics".

Minneapolis police chief Brian O’Hara said at the press conference that dozens of police officers responded to the scene and are grappling with what they witnessed.

"Many of them are deeply traumatized by what they saw as are, obviously, all of the children, all of the staff members … everyone who is at mass this morning," the cop said.