Mayor responds as Trump administration removes memorial honouring 49 victims of Pulse Nightclub

Donald Trump’s administration has come under fire from the mayor of Orlando, Florida, after removing the crosswalk honouring the 49 victims of Pulse Nightclub.

On July 12, 2016, 29-year-old Omar Mateen killed 49 people and wounded 53 more in a mass shooting at Pulse. The gay nightclub, which had been hosting a Latin night at the time, was declared a terrorist attack as Omar swore allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He was killed by police officers after a three-hour standoff.

This week, just one year before the 10-year anniversary of the politically-motivated attack, the Secretary of Transportation removed the rainbow crosswalk outside the abandoned Pulse Nightclub – and people are angry.

Why was Pulse Nightclub’s rainbow crosswalk removed?

Credit: TNS/Shutterstock

As per People, the Pulse crosswalk memorial was removed on Wednesday, August 20, following a direction from the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy. He reportedly issued a letter to all 50 US states, urging them to comply with his “SAFE ROADS Initiative” by eliminating “distractions” on non-freeway roads.

“Taxpayers expect their dollars to fund safe streets, not rainbow crosswalks,” he said on Twitter. “Political banners have no place on public roads. I’m reminding recipients of @USDOT roadway funding that it’s limited to features advancing safety, and nothing else. It’s that simple.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also supported the action following backlash, adding on Twitter: “We will not allow our state roads to be commandeered for political purposes.”

The mayor has condemned the action

We are devastated to learn that overnight the state painted over the Pulse Memorial crosswalk on Orange Avenue. But we know that while this crosswalk has been removed, Orlando's commitment to honoring the 49 can never be erased. pic.twitter.com/4LdXvLUiom

— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) August 21, 2025

The decision to remove the Pulse Nightclub crosswalk has been met with fierce opposition, with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer dubbing it a “cruel political act.”

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“The City of Orlando’s safety crosswalks were all installed in close coordination with the state and adhere to national safety standards. In fact, the crosswalk that is part of the Pulse Memorial was installed by the state,” he wrote in a lengthy message.

“This crosswalk not only enhanced safety and visibility for the large number of pedestrians visiting the memorial, it also served as a visual reminder of Orlando’s commitment to honour the 49 lives taken. While this crosswalk has been removed, our community’s commitment to honouring the 49 can never be erased.”

Similarly, state Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith called it inherently anti-LGBTQ+, adding: “That’s a totally ridiculous and absurd excuse for what is very clearly an attempt to erase LGBTQ identities and just be anti queer.”

Within hours of the crosswalk being removed, residents of Orlando had taken to painting the black and white replacement in the colours of the rainbow.

Donald Trump is yet to comment.

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Featured image credit: Hugh Peterswald/Pacific Press Via Zuma Wire/Shutterstock and TNS/Shutterstock