Former Jets Star Nick Mangold Criticizes New Jersey Town for Overlooking Charlie Kirk

Former New York Jets star Nick Mangold voiced his frustration with a New Jersey town on Saturday for its decision not to lower the American flag to half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk.

Madison was one of several towns in the state that chose not to adhere to President Donald Trump’s order requesting that all American flags on government buildings be flown at half-staff through Sunday.

The order was made to honor the conservative influencer who was assassinated during an event at Utah Valley University.

But as Mangold drove by a government building in town, he noticed the flag was still waving at the top of the pole.

“I’m really upset and disheartened with my town (Madison) and the state of New Jersey,” he posted on X. “This is wrong on so many levels… an American husband and father was killed for exercising his right to free speech.”

Mangold tagged New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and the two gubernatorial candidates who are fighting to succeed Murphy, state Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli.

Officials in Bergen County, New Jersey, also came under fire for keeping their flags at full staff but explained why in a post on Facebook.

“Today, we received questions about the lowering of the American flag at County-owned facilities,” the county said Saturday. “Bergen County’s policy is to follow the State of New Jersey’s daily flag status, which can be found here. Today’s status was ‘full staff.’”

Kirk was shot and killed as he was speaking to students at the university in Orem, Utah. He is survived by his wife and two children.

Tyler Robinson was arrested in the shooting after officials launched a manhunt for more than a day.