President Donald Trump ordered flags to be flown at half-staff following the fatal shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on Sept. 10.

Trump ordered the flags across the nation, at military posts, and at embassies to remain flown at half-staff until Sept. 14, according to a White House proclamation provided to USA TODAY.

Kirk, 31, was shot during a question-and-answer session with students. Trump confirmed Kirk's death in a post on Truth Social calling the right-wing personality and close ally "Great, and even Legendary."

Police arrested two people in the wake of the shooting but both have been released and are not believed to be the shooter, authorities said.

"He fought for liberty, democracy, justice and the American people," Trump said in a pre-recorded message from the Oval Office posted to Truth Social late Sept. 10. "He's a martyr for truth and freedom and there's never been anyone who was so respected by youth."

Here's what to know about why the U.S. flag is flown at half-staff.

What does the flag code say?

Flags are flown at half-staff when the country or a specific state is mourning after national tragedies, for days of remembrance or in the immediate deaths of government or military personnel, according to the U.S. General Services Administration.

The flag code states that the flag should fly at half-staff for 30 days following the death of a current or former president and 10 days for the death of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Other officials, such as Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, Cabinet Secretaries and former Vice Presidents may have the flag flown at half-staff from the day of their death until their interment. Members of Congress have the flags lowered on the day of their death and the following day.

The code also allows for the president to issue instructions for the flag to be flown at half-staff for: "the death of other officials, former officials, or foreign dignitaries."

It also allows for Governors and the Mayor of the District of Columbia to order the flag flown at half-staff within their jursidiction if a member of the Armed Forces or a "first responder" from that state or the District dies in the line of duty.

Can the president lower the flags for a private citizen?

The U.S. Flag Code makes no mention of lowering the flags for a non-government official.

The flag code states that the president can modify or alter "any rule or custom pertaining to the display of the flag" by proclamation.

While the flag code is written in the U.S. Code, it is considered a guideline and contains no enforcement mechanism, according Congress' website.

When have flags been flown at half-staff before?

The flag has been ordered to half-staff following major tragedies, such as the September 11 Attacks and the 2012 Newtown school shooting. Trump ordered the flags lowered following the Annunciation Church shooting in August.

The flag has also been lowered for notable deaths, including the death of Pope Francis in April, the death of former President Jimmy Carter in December and the death of Queen Elizabeth in 2022.

Contributing: Amanda Lee Meyers – USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump orders flags flown at half-staff following Charlie Kirk assassination

Reporting by James Powel, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect