Florida shooting trump tweet angers survivors
On February 15, 2018, President Donald Trump tweeted about the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, which occurred on February 14, 2018. The tweet read:
"Appreciate the sentiment but don't jump to conclusions, Montco Sheriff Bill Hutchinson said at a news conference. 'We're still investigating.' So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad behavior. Americans should stop throwing rocks and work together for the good of our country!"
The tweet was widely criticized by survivors of the shooting, as well as many others, for several reasons:
- Lack of empathy: The tweet was seen as insensitive and lacking in empathy for the victims and their families. The survivors felt that Trump was more concerned with defending his own reputation than with showing compassion for those affected by the tragedy.
- Misinformation: The tweet contained several inaccuracies, including the claim that the shooter was "mentally disturbed" and had been "expelled from school for bad behavior." These claims were not supported by the evidence and were seen as an attempt to deflect attention from the issue of gun violence.
- Divisive language: The tweet used divisive language, with Trump calling on Americans to "stop throwing rocks" and work together. This was seen as a way of avoiding responsibility for the tragedy and instead blaming others for the problem.
- Lack of action: The tweet did not offer any concrete solutions to the problem of gun violence, which was seen as a major issue in the wake of the shooting. Instead, it seemed to focus on defending Trump's own policies and reputation.
The tweet was widely criticized on social media, with many people expressing their outrage and disappointment. The survivors of the shooting, including David Hogg and Emma González, were particularly vocal in their criticism, with Hogg saying that Trump's tweet was "disgusting" and González saying that it was "a slap in the face" to the victims and their families.
The controversy surrounding the tweet highlighted the deep divisions in the country over the issue of gun violence and the role that social media plays in shaping public opinion. It also underscored the importance of empathy and compassion in the aftermath of a tragedy, and the need for leaders to take concrete action to address the root causes of the problem.