PA50 people at an LGBT nightclub in Orlando, Florida, were left dead and 53 others injured in the early hours of Sunday after being attacked by a gunman.
Omar Mateen was identified as the suspected gunman at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and his father has revealed he believes his son had homophobic motives. It is the worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
While grieving families and survivors mourn the tragedy, many politicians expressed their sadness and affirmed the need tighten both gun control and extremism, TIME reports. But presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump managed to make the horrific events about him.
PAAppreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
Taking to Twitter, he felt the need to mention the congratulations he’s recieved ‘for being right on radical Islamic terrorism.’
Hours later, he posted the same message to Facebook for good measure.
While I greatly appreciate everybody congratulating me for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congratulations, I want toughness and vigilance. We must finally be smart!
Posted by Donald J. Trump on Sunday, June 12, 2016
His supporters apparently wasted no time in telling him that the Orlando massacre is proof he was right to bring attention to Islamic terrorism. But his infamous proposed Muslim ban would have had no effect in this case. Mateen, who died during the attack, was born in New York and is a U.S. citizen, the Huffington Post reports.
PAHis inappropriate tweet drew the wrath of countless Twitter users:
[tweet https://twitter.com/sacca/status/742038391215116288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw/ conversation=”false”]
when is America going to see what this guy really is? Frightening.
— Josh Wolf (@joshwolfcomedy) June 12, 2016
[tweet https://twitter.com/Katyaax/status/742034617847418880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw/ conversation=”false”]
[tweet https://twitter.com/MeghanMcCain/status/742039928335433728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw/ conversation=”false”]
[tweet https://twitter.com/EmmaKennedy/status/742039581244166146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw/ conversation=”false”]
[tweet https://twitter.com/SteveClampITV/status/742107351730229248/ conversation=”false”]
Credit for the attack was subsequently claimed by ISIS, though it is unclear the group’s operatives had any contact with U.S. citizen Mateen.
Mass shootings have historically been politicised, particularly when it comes the issue of gun control – and Trump didn’t make an exception to this after the tragic incident in Orlando.
It’s safe to assume we’ll be hearing a lot more from Trump about how this incident supposedly interlaces with his presidential campaign.
