On September 10th, America mourned the loss of a great Christian, Patriot, Father, and Husband, but Charlie’s death was not only felt across America. Countries all over the world shared in the sorrow. On September 11, 2025, President Trump directed the country to lower all American flags to half-mast through the 14th in observation of Charlie Kirk’s death.
President Trump posted on the Truth Social platform, “In honor of Charlie Kirk, a truly Great American Patriot, I am ordering all American Flags throughout the United States lowered to Half-Mast until Sunday evening at 6 p.m.”
Out of respect and appreciation for a true American patriot, state houses across the country embraced President Trump’s directive and obliged—well, except for two: New York and New Jersey, which did not issue orders to lower their flags like all other states.
New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and her gang of defiant Democrats decided that the flag near the Albany, New York, Capitol building would remain at full mast despite the death of Charlie Kirk, the September 11th attack on America, and the wishes of the President of the United States.
Hochul has ordered the flag to be flown at half-mast as recently as this past June in honor of State Department of Transportation Highway Maintenance Supervisor Robert Bornt. She is willing to lower the flag… just not in this case. Was she being defiant to President Trump, or was her disdain for America simply a long pattern of behavior?
New York State, under Hochul’s leadership, has a history of hostility towards individual liberties. In July of 2022, in response to the pro-Second Amendment Supreme Court Bruen ruling, New York passed the so-called “Concealed Carry Improvement Act” which banned carry in a wide variety of locations and later required background checks for ammo purchases.
Continuing in that vein of hostility towards the expression of individual liberties and general social decency, Hochul – incredibly – challenged the actions of a private citizen who simply tried to show a sign of respect for the loss of life.
New York resident, Alex Portelli, decided that recognizing Charlie Kirk and his legacy was far more important than accommodating Kathy Hochul’s childish whims and he went to the State Capitol and lowered the flag himself.
Upon lowering the flag in Albany, Mr. Portelli was met with instant resistance as Albany Democrats raised the flag back to its original position. Word got out that there was a bit of controversy over the honoring of Charlie Kirk, and agitators involved with the radical left-wing group, Antifa, began giving Alex death threats.
At this point, none of the heinous behavior coming from Democrat elected representatives or their gangs of financially funded political thugs should surprise us.
Despite the resistance, Mr. Portelli went back to the State House and lowered the flag a second time. This seemed to infuriate Albany Democrats, and some threatened him with arrest if he were to do it again. Mr. Portelli insisted that the flag be lowered, and he did it a third time. Again, elected Democrats in Albany raised the flag in defiance but this time, they appointed security to guard the American flag from being lowered again by Portelli and his fellow patriots.
The amount of effort Democrat officials will put in to prevent the honoring of someone who opposes them politically is astonishing, but we are finally getting a view into the hearts and minds of most Democrat public officials.
At this point, the story started catching on and received approximately half a million views on social media. It appeared Albany Democrats were getting frustrated but that didn’t stop Mr. Portelli, and he lowered the flag a fourth time. In response, Albany Democrats stationed two men at the flag to physically hold the ropes, preventing anyone from lowering it again. Yes, these are the priorities of elected New York Democrats.
Watch Alex Portelli on lowering the American flag to half-mast for a FOURTH time.
When asked about the controversy, Alex Portelli said, “Like every patriotic American after Charlie’s death, I felt angry and frustrated. Somebody who shared my views was murdered and the people I thought would condemn it were condoning it. Then I read about Hochul refusing to order flags lowered and knew this was a non-violent way I can honor Charlie Kirk in defiance of those who cheered his death.”
How is it that Democrat representatives have become hateful to the point that they can’t honor the passing of a great American like Charlie Kirk even after being officially requested to do so by the President of the United States? Have their politics overtaken them to the point they have lost their sense of humanity? Their inherent evil has become so apparent that we don’t even need to point it out anymore.
Joe Suhrada, Chairman, Saratoga County GOP, had this to say: “Alex Portelli is a brave and courageous young man who is willing to speak truth to power in Kathy Hochul’s New York. Despite a legal Presidential Proclamation from the President of the United States to lower the flags to half-staff, Hochul outright refuses to show the respect that the office of The President should be shown- no matter what party is in power. She is wrong, and Alex is correct and acts legally and with respect for our Flag Code and our traditions. Thank God there are people like him.”
There is a shift happening in America and the left-wing is finding itself in a precarious position. They are quickly losing the support of American citizens, including many who are publicly leaving the Democrat party. Not only are they beginning to look like a defiant bunch of children, but they are being recognized as anti-American.
This is not a good look for Kathy Hochul, especially as her re-election campaign starts to gear up. Recently, Hochul endorsed a self-proclaimed socialist with communist policy ideas, for New York City Mayor without receiving reciprocal support. She does not seem to be positioning herself very well for reelection and it seems even Democrats are disavowing her.
Maybe Elise Stefanik will remind Kathy Hochul of her obligation to represent all New Yorkers and not just the ones who vote for her.
Will the people of New York kick Kathy to the curb and give Elise the Governor’s seat? We will see. In the meantime, Patriots like Alex Portelli will continue to remind the radical Democrats in Albany who they work for, and that civil liberties, such as expressing opposition to political power, and Second Amendment rights, are not negotiable.
To watch the entire interview with Alex Portelli, on The Loaded Mic show, click here: The Loaded Mic.
