President Donald Trump wasted no time politicizing the tragic mass shooting in Pittsburgh on Wednesday when he used it to promote the campaign of Republican candidate Keith Rothfus in yet another shameful episode of this poisonous presidency.
Eleven people were murdered by an anti-Semitic gunman over the weekend only days after Trump declared himself a “nationalist” to pander to his neo-Nazi supporters.
The people of Pittsburgh did not want Trump to go to a rally in their city on Tuesday, but Trump went anyway, resulting in a protest that Trump would later attack via Twitter while claiming that the people respected him.
Melania and I were treated very nicely yesterday in Pittsburgh. The Office of the President was shown great respect on a very sad & solemn day. We were treated so warmly. Small protest was not seen by us, staged far away. The Fake News stories were just the opposite-Disgraceful! pic.twitter.com/9B9HgCF1G9
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018
The very next day, Trump used the tragedy to campaign for Rothfus, one of the few Pennsylvania lawmakers willing to associate with him during the trip.
Yesterday in Pittsburgh I was really impressed with Congressman Keith Rothfus (far more so than any other local political figure). His sincere level of compassion, grief and sorrow for the events that took place was, in its own way, very inspiring. Vote for Keith!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2018
The backlash was swift and merciless as Twitter users hammered Trump for daring to insult the victims of a horrific massacre by using their deaths to promote Rothfus’ campaign.
Publicly ranking a grief scale for political figures during a domestic terrorist attack as a form of electioneering is a new one > https://t.co/oMZEq1huEu
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 31, 2018
Are you kidding? You are using a mass killing to campaign for someone, and dunk on others? Of course you are. Why would I expect more.
— Nikki Martinez (@DrNikkiMartinez) November 1, 2018
Too bad Trump demonstrated absolutely no sincere sympathy, empathy or caring for the victims, their families, or the community.
— Toeheel (@Toeheel2) November 1, 2018
So people should vote for him because his empathy clocked in at “normal for a human” and therefore far exceeds yours?! How dare you make political hay out of the agony your fear and hate mongering may well have engendered! Kudos to the mayor for avoiding direct contact with you!
— Mary Ann Daugherty (@PalominoPoetry) November 1, 2018
Considering that no prominent politician – from either party – was willing to be seen with you, it seems like he won your approval by default. We are not impressed by either of you.
— Gnomester210 (@noem210) November 1, 2018
Yesterday in Pittsburgh was not about politicians. If you would act like a decent human being, even once, maybe you would know that. The community is grieving. Wonderful human beings have lost their lives. Have some respect!
— Julie Van Vacter (@JulieinLQ) November 1, 2018
How dare you! Our political officials are suffering with the people of Squirrel Hill. You don’t know us. You don’t know them. Be respectful at this time of grief, fear, and pain! #PittsburghStrong Our city is a place of diversity and love!
— RandomShots (@HFRandomShots) November 1, 2018
Using the massacre to campaign. Words fail me. Foul beyond description.
— Jill Shallenberger (@jssacto) November 1, 2018
This is a damn disgrace. Damn disgrace. Politicizing a massacre of Americans? What’s worse than deplorable? https://t.co/54L1gXjQa2
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) October 31, 2018
Trump should be ashamed of himself for such a low political stunt. But since Trump is incapable of feeling shame, Americans are going to have to be ashamed of him and vote on November 6th to punish the Republican Party for putting this sorry excuse for a human being in the White House.
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