It was just last week in Nashville, Tennessee when a gunman opened fire inside a Waffle House restaurant that resulted in four people being killed. After days of silence, the White House has finally responded in the form of a tweet by Vice President Mike Pence.
Tragic shooting in Tennessee earlier this week. Thanks James Shaw Jr. for your courageous actions to save lives and your continued efforts to help others. You’re an American HERO! https://t.co/vyA6B3N1eu
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) April 26, 2018
Pence on Waffle House
It happened early Sunday morning around 3:30 a.m.
in Nashville, Tennessee when 29-year-old Travis Jeffrey Reinking walked into a Waffle House wearing only a green jacket and arming himself with an AR-15-style rifle. Over the course of the next few minutes, Reinking opened fire, killing four and injuring four others before civilian James Shaw Jr. rushed at the shooter while wrestling away the weapon. Reinking then fled the scene before being captured 34-hours later by law enforcement. Since then, Shaw has refused to accept the label of a hero, despite helping to raise over $150,000 for the families of the victims.
In the days that have followed, Donald Trump has not offered a comment through Twitter or via a presidential statement. With the silence in the White House, Mike Pence took time to tweet out his thoughts on April 26.
"Tragic shooting in Tennessee earlier this week," Pence tweeted. "Thanks James Shaw Jr. for your courageous actions to save lives and your continued efforts to help others," he wrote, before concluding, "You're an American HERO!" As expected, it didn't take long before critics of the administration decided to sound off with opposition.
Twitter reacts
Following Mike Pence's tweet about the Waffle House shooting and James Shaw, those who oppose current White House made sure not to hold back with their own thoughts. "What took you so long? You have tweeted over and over again re: tax cuts and birthday wishes since then. But until now, not a single tweet about the Waffle House massacre by the white guy with the AR-15," one tweet read.
What took you so long, and why hasn’t the president acknowledged this hero? Oh yeah, the hero is black and the shooter is white.
— Ralph Feaster (@ralphfeaster) April 26, 2018
Wow 😮 was he on the bottom of your to do list? Almost a week later.
— Crystal Kia-Paul (@AlohaCrystal) April 26, 2018
Took your administration nearly a week to mention this. Guess it didn’t fit the agenda.
— Jeff (@jamfan40) April 26, 2018
"Took your administration nearly a week to mention this. Guess it didn’t fit the agenda," a Twitter user wrote. "What took you so long, and why hasn’t the president acknowledged this hero? Oh yeah, the hero is black and the shooter is white," another tweet stated in reference to Donald Trump's silence on the issue.
"What took the white house so long to recognize this hero? Trump mentions a hero French cop at his conf but no mention of our hero..could it be because he's black?" an additional tweet added.
What took the white house so long to recognize this hero? Trump mentions a hero French cop at his conf but no mention of our hero..could it be bc he's black?
— Patti Ann (@pattiparalegal) April 26, 2018
Are you just learning this????? Wanna let your boss know?
— Beth Patton Kauten (@kauten_beth) April 26, 2018
What took you so long??
— Artie Vandelay (@ArtieVandelay1) April 26, 2018
You have tweeted over and over again re: tax cuts and birthday wishes since then. But until now, not a single tweet about the Waffle House massacre by the white guy with the AR-15.
I guess better late than never..
Where’s Donny, too?#WaffleHouseHero
"Took you long enough! Where's POTUS response?" a social media user wondered. "Are you just learning this????? Wanna let your boss know?" a follow-up tweet read.
