Pro-Trump journalist Lucian Wintrich is defending his piece criticizing Florida shooting survivor David Hogg.

The Gateway Pundit White House correspondent received serious backlash on Monday and Tuesday after he suggested that Hogg’s ex-FBI father raised questions about the Florida teenager’s motives for supporting gun control after the massacre at his high school.

“[David Hogg’s] immediate defense of the FBI and condemnation of President Trump did not simply seem like the passion of a teenager in shock — it seemed coordinated and rehearsed,” Wintrich told TheWrap, arguing that Hogg was being used as a pawn to push a political agenda.

“He and many of these other students are being used as marionettes by the far left and deep state because they were able to run out of a building. There is no credibility there and it’s disgusting to watch,” he said.

Also Read:Pro-Trump Media Attacks Florida School Shooting Survivors

In a response to multiple inquiries sent by TheWrap, Wintrich went on to compare himself to famed Watergate reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, and said he had no reservations about his piece on Florida shooting survivors whatsoever.

“Native Americans are the only ones with reservations,” said the pro-Trump writer.

In his original piece, Wintrich focused on Hogg’s father, who served in the FBI, and footage which he said showed Hogg being coached about what to say on television.

“Immediately, these students-turned-activists threw up some red flags,” wrote Wintrich in his much-maligned piece. “Why would the child of an FBI agent be used as a pawn for anti-Trump rhetoric and anti-gun legislation? Because the FBI is only looking to curb YOUR Constitutional rights and INCREASE their power. We’ve seen similar moves by them many times over. This is just another disgusting example of it.”

Jim – could you please return to attacking me (or really any grownup) instead of the courageous #Parkland students? Thank you. https://t.co/t8ngiLllS6 — Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 20, 2018

The smear campaigns against the shooting survivors are heartbreaking. The conspiracy theories are infuriating. And it's getting worse by the hour. What are the antidotes for this poison? — Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) February 20, 2018

Jesus. These nut jobs are now attacking these teenagers who survived the shooting in Florida. Hey .@PressSec are you going to do the right thing and pull the credential for @gatewaypundit & their low travelers for this beyond the pale attack on kids? Not expecting anything. — John Weaver (@JWGOP) February 20, 2018

Gateway Pundit (the fetid internet cesspool of leftover conspiracy turd sandwiches that Trump's WH gave a press credential) is now going after the Parkland survivors (i.e. children) pic.twitter.com/2T0CSgvpQ2 — David Mack (@davidmackau) February 19, 2018

Both Hogg and Gateway Pundit founder Jim Hoft did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment on Tuesday.

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