Parkland survivors slam Trump's tweet about the Texas school shooting

Another tragedy prompts a tone-deaf tweet from President Trump.
 By 
Marcus Gilmer
 on 
Parkland survivors slam Trump's tweet about the Texas school shooting
Parkland shooting survivor Cameron Kasky speaks at the March for Our Lives in March 2018 Credit: Getty Images

The United States experienced yet another tragic school shooting on Friday morning, after someone opened fire at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, reportedly killing at least eight people.

But a second furor broke out over President Trump's initial response. Many, including survivors of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, are calling him out for his comments.

Shortly after 11 a.m. ET, Trump tweeted, "School shooting in Texas. Early reports not looking good. God bless all!"

Parkland school shooting survivors Cameron Kasky and Jaclyn Corin slammed the president for what they considered a greatly insensitive and tone-deaf statement.

Kasky and Corin were joined by other Parkland survivors, including David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez, who sent condolences to the Santa Fe High School victims and shared more feelings based on their experiences surrounding the Parkland shooting.

Adding to the emotions, Parkland students were watching events unfold in Texas on the final day of class of their tumultuous school year.

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter, Jamie, was killed in the Parkland shooting, also weighed in, saying Friday's shooting was his fear confirmed.

Speaking at a prison reform panel at the White House, both Vice President Mike Pence and President Trump made mention of the shootings, which he called a "horrific attack," but neither went beyond the usual "thoughts and prayers" theme.

Trump later tweeted the above video with a text excerpt of his brief words on the shooting.

According to the Houston Chronicle, at least 8 people were killed and 12 injured during the Friday morning shooting. The Chronicle also reports that the alleged shooter is in police custody.

UPDATE: May 18, 2018, 11:53 a.m. EDT Updated to include statement from President Trump and additional tweets from Parkland survivors.

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Marcus Gilmer

Marcus Gilmer is Mashable's Assistant Real-Times News Editor on the West Coast, reporting on breaking news from his location in San Francisco. An Alabama native, Marcus earned his BA from Birmingham-Southern College and his MFA in Communications from the University of New Orleans. Marcus has previously worked for Chicagoist, The A.V. Club, the Chicago Sun-Times and the San Francisco Chronicle.

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