In One Tweet, Trump Just Made the Tragic Mass Shooting in Orlando All About Him
On Sunday, Omar Mateen was identified as the suspected gunman in a mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It is the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, leaving at least 50 dead and 53 wounded early Sunday morning.
And Donald Trump wasted no time making the tragedy about himself.
Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!
The presumptive GOP presidential nominee reveled in congratulations "for being right on radical Islamic terrorism." However, he followed up the self-congratulatory sentiment with "I don't want congrats, I want toughness and vigilance. We must be smart!"
Trump drew the ire of countless Twitter users, who didn't hesitate to share their disdain for his public relations stunt, just hours after the shooting.
@realDonaldTrump You're the only person in America who would or could "appreciate the congrats" while families mourn 50 dead.
@sacca when is America going to see what this guy really is? Frightening.
@realDonaldTrump congrats on being a joke
@realDonaldTrump You're congratulating yourself because 50 people are dead this morning in a horrific tragedy?
@realDonaldTrump you've really gotta be kidding me rn
@realDonaldTrump You're crowing about congrats because 50 people were murdered. WTF is wrong with you?
Others echoed Democratic presumptive presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's plea to Trump on Thursday to "delete your account."
@realDonaldTrump Delete your account.
@deletetrump2016 @realDonaldTrump delete your run for president.
Mass shootings have historically been politicized, particularly when it comes the issue of gun control. In recent years, American Muslims haven't been immune to this process either, as their religion often becomes embroiled in the ensuing debate.
Even without evidence, any act of violence involving Muslims is quick to be labeled "terrorism," a nomenclature not so loosely afforded to crimes committed by Christians, Caucasians and people of other faiths and ethnicities.