Five people have been reported dead after an attempted mass shooting in California. In the hours after the news broke, Donald Trump gave his thoughts on Twitter but came under fire for accidentally citing the location of a previous shooting.
Trump on Twitter
The United States continues to deal with mass shootings and other acts of violence, too often the result of the use of a gun. On Tuesday, a gunman in Northern California attempted to break into Rancho Tehama Elementary School, but was unable to do so due to the building being secured. According to CNN, the gunman drove a stolen pickup truck through the locked gate, before exiting the vehicle and opening fire through the walls and windows.
Minutes later, the suspect fled the scene but was taken down and killed after an altercation with police. However, the bullets fired by the gunman back at the school resulted in four deaths, while injuring others. The shooting took place less than two weeks after 26-year-old Devin Patrick Kelley killed 26 people at a small Texas church, and just over a month after 64-year-old Stephen Paddock killed 58 people during a mass shooting in Las Vegas. The incident has once again sparked a debate over gun control, as both Democrats and Republicans argue over the best course of action. As seen on his Twitter account on November 15, Donald Trump appeared to be giving his comments on the shooting, but cited the aforementioned incident in Texas.
May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas. The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2017
Taking to Twitter on Tuesday night, Donald Trump tweeted out what appeared to be his sympathy for the shooting in California, but seemed to have gotten his details mixed up. "May God be with the people of Sutherland Springs, Texas," Trump tweeted out, before adding, "The FBI and Law Enforcement has arrived." As expected, those who oppose the president wasted no time pointing out the error.
JUST IN: At least 5 dead, including shooter, after shooting spree in Northern California. Suspect opened fire at 7 different scenes, including elementary school, officials say.
— ABC News (@ABC) November 14, 2017
Twitter reaction
Moments after Donald Trump's tweet, critics took the time to correct the president's mistake. "Did u just copy & paste this & forget to change the city?" one tweet wondered.
He’s not even trying anymore...
— Lady Sleuth🕵🏼♀️ (@MrsSleuth) November 15, 2017
Um....California. Shooting was in California. FBI didn’t just arrive at church shooting in Texas. They arrived at school in Calif. Ok?
— swede grrrl (@swedegrrrl) November 15, 2017
um... pic.twitter.com/NfUyljZSKi
— JoAnn (@JoGonx) November 15, 2017
"Um....California. Shooting was in California. FBI didn’t just arrive at church shooting in Texas. They arrived at school in Calif. Ok?" another tweet went on to note. "Wrong state. New shooting. Please try to keep up," one Twitter user stated.
Are you fucking serious? He is so confused he doesn't even know which mass shooting was today!
— Celine Mayes (@Celine4Sanity) November 15, 2017
Ummm, did you mean the mass shooting in California? I can understand why it would be easy to mix mass shootings up, as they happen every other week. pic.twitter.com/tmpsmLhZFq
— Frizzie Frizzstein (@bringonthesong) November 15, 2017
Wrong state. New shooting. Please try to keep up.
— Audrey U (@AudreyU2) November 15, 2017
"Ummm, did you mean the mass shooting in California?
I can understand why it would be easy to mix mass shootings up, as they happen every other week," yet another tweet noted. "Are you fu*king serious? He is so confused he doesn't even know which mass shooting was today!" a fellow Twitter user wrote. The response to Donald Trump's tweet continued to remain negative as the president returns to the United States after a two week trip to Asia.
