President Donald Trump strongly condemned the August 3 mass shooting at a Walmart store inside the Cielo Vista mall in El Paso, Texas. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates rushed to blame him for the tragedy and faced immediate backlash for politicizing the senseless murders of 20 people.

Trump called the attack a tragic “act of cowardice,” and pledged the “total support of the Federal Government” to help the victims and their grieving families.

Trump tweeted: “Today’s shooting in El Paso, Texas was not only tragic, it was an act of cowardice. I know that I stand with everyone in this Country to condemn today’s hateful act. There are no reasons or excuses that will ever justify killing innocent people.”

….Melania and I send our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the great people of Texas. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019

Terrible shootings in ElPaso, Texas. Reports are very bad, many killed. Working with State and Local authorities, and Law Enforcement. Spoke to Governor to pledge total support of Federal Government. God be with you all! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2019

Predictably, the mass shooting ignited heated partisan debate, with Democrats seizing on the tragedy to demand more gun control and to attack President Trump.

(Source: CBS News)

In a knee-jerk reaction, Democrat presidential candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) blamed Trump for the shooting.

Klobuchar said: “The individuals who do the shootings are responsible, but I do think Trump’s rhetoric has fueled more hate in this country.”

Klobuchar also demanded stricter gun-control laws, even though many of the cities with the toughest gun-control laws (like Chicago and Baltimore) actually have more gun violence than cities with more relaxed laws.

“Today innocent people — families — went to that mall in El Paso,” Klobuchar said. “Some of them never came home. The U.S. House has passed common sense gun safety legislation. It is long past time to pass it in the Senate. The question to ask: Whose side are you on? The NRA’s or the people’s.”

.@amyklobuchar says while the individual shooters are responsible, President Trump’s rhetoric “has fueled more hate in this country” pic.twitter.com/QZKoAVcJqo — Emma Kinery (@EmmaKinery) August 3, 2019

Similarly, Democrat presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke, who was born in El Paso, immediately blamed President Trump for the shooting.

“He is a racist, and he stokes racism in this country,” O’Rourke told reporters. “We’ve had a rise in hate crimes every single one of the last three years. During an administration where you’ve had the president call Mexicans rapists and criminals.”

President Trump's racism does not just offend our sensibilities; it fundamentally changes the character of this country. And it leads to violence. pic.twitter.com/SbuxGneFnh — Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) August 4, 2019

To underscore how disgusted Americans are at politicians exploiting tragedies to promote their political agendas, both O’Rourke and Klobuchar received heavy backlash on Twitter for their insensitive remarks.

One woman wrote of Klobuchar, “Classless. Typical Liberals can’t wait to politicize and then FUND RAISE off a tragedy. Heartless wench.”

Classless. Typical Liberals can’t wait to politicize and then FUNDRAISE off a tragedy. Heartless wench. #ElPaso — Grace Vasquez (@itsYourGrace) August 3, 2019

Another person chimed in and said, “Don’t demonize the NRA. They didn’t kill anyone.”

Don’t demonize the NRA. They didn’t kill anyone — ??? ???? (@jrpeet) August 3, 2019

Another person pointed out, “Planned Parenthood has killed more innocent lives than the NRA ever has or will.”

Planned Parenthood has killed more innocent lives than the NRA ever has or will. — John W (@txradioguy) August 4, 2019

Beto faced similar backlash.

One man asked, “How dare you blame Trump for this? And continue to call him a racist! This was an act by a sick and evil individual. Trump has been in office 2.5 years and will you blame for all other shootings too?”

How dare you blame Trump for this! And continue to call him a racist! This was an act by a sick and evil individual. We have have had these types of people from the past and unfortunately now too! Trump has been in office 2.5 years and will you blame for all other shootings too? — DJ Camacho (@d7cam) August 4, 2019

Another wrote, “You are a pathetic! This guy was a sick Person who has been sick for a long time. To blame Trump is as low lying fruit as this POS’s Target.”

You are a pathetic! This guy was a sick Person who has been sick for a long time. To blame Trump is as low lying fruit as this POS’s Target. — Nukeluloosh (@nukeluloosh) August 4, 2019

Why didn’t the left blame Barack Obama in the way they are blaming Trump now? After all, Obama presided over 5 of the 12 deadliest gun massacres in history (even left-wing CNN admitted this was true).

Here’s a breakdown of mass shootings by president. Where was the left’s outrage then?

Barack Obama (Democrat): 32

William J. Clinton (Democrat): 23

George W. Bush (Republican): 20

George HW Bush (Republican): 12

Ronald Reagan (Republican): 11

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