The University of Tampa has fired a visiting professor who suggested on Twitter that Texas deserves the deadly devastation from Hurricane Harvey because it voted for President Trump in the 2016 election.

Visiting assistant sociology professor Kenneth L. Storey had tweeted Sunday, “I don’t believe in instant Karma but this kinda feels like it for Texas. Hopefully this will help them realize the GOP doesn’t care about them,” according to screenshots obtained by Campus Reform.

Mr. Storey added that “the good people there need to do more to stop the evil their state pushes. I’m only blaming those who support the GOP there.” He also said that the Trump voters in hurricane-prone Florida deserved the same fate.

Mr. Storey quickly deleted the tweets after making headlines at conservative news outlets, but the backlash was swift.

“I deeply regret a statement I posted yesterday,” he later apologized, The Tampa Bay Times reported. “I never meant to wish ill will upon any group. I hope all affected by Harvey recover quickly.”

The Times reported Tuesday that Mr. Storey had been fired.

“We condemn the comments and the sentiment behind them, and understand the pain this irresponsible act has caused,” university spokesman Eric Cardenas said in a statement Tuesday morning. “As Floridians, we are well aware of the destruction and suffering associated with tropical weather.”

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