The family of the young couple who died protecting their baby from the El Paso gunman say they have received death threats after they met with Donald Trump.

A picture of the president went viral in the wake of the mass shooting at the Walmart after it showed first lady Melania holding little Paul Anchondo as POTUS smiled and gave a thumbs up.

Among the family members in the photo was the baby's uncle, Tito Anchondo, a Trump supporter who said he had received death threats.

'We should be coming together as a country at this time instead of threatening each other with hate messages,' he said.

Anchondo said on Friday that Trump 'was just there to give his condolences and he was just being a human being'.

He added: 'Is it that hard to try and understand that a family is trying to not be sad at a moment like this? We're trying to be as strong as we can. My brother is gone.'

He previously told NPR that he and his brother were Trump supporters.

Donald and Melania Trump met the two-month-old baby whose parents Jordan and Andre Anchondo died while shielding him from gunfire during the El Paso shooting. Andre's brother Tito, left, said he had received death threats after meeting the president

Jordan and Andre Anchondo are pictured holding their son, Paul Gilbert, who is now two-months-old. His parents died as they shielded in from gunfire in the El Paso shooting. Andre's brother Tito said Trump 'was just there to give his condolences' when he visited the hospital

Two-month-old Paul's parents, Andre and Jordan Anchondo, were among 22 killed and about two dozen wounded when a gunman opened fire on August 3 inside a Walmart packed with shoppers.

Authorities say Jordan Ancondo, 25, was shielding the baby, while her 24-year-old husband shielded them both. The boy, believed to be the youngest survivor of the massacre, suffered broken fingers.

The gunman, 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, is said to have confessed to authorities after surrendering and said he had been targeting Mexicans.

After the picture of the first couple was posted on Mealnia's Twitter account Democratic strategist Greg Pinelo said: 'This is a photo of Trump grinning while Melania holds a baby orphaned by the shooting.

'A baby who was taken from home and forced to serve as a prop at a photo-op for the very monster whose hate killed her/his parents. I would need 280,000 characters to say how furious I am.'

Washington Post columnist Brian Klaas wrote: 'I’ve don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who would think the appropriate response would be flashing a smile and thumbs up. Something is wrong with him.'

John Jamrowski, the grandfather of Jordan Anchondo, previously said he received an early-morning phone call from a hospital inviting his family to schedule a meeting with the president.

Jamrowski said he declined in an effort to stay out of the political fray and avoid misinterpretations.

'We're politically neutral,' he said. 'We discussed it as a family and said, 'You know what, this could be spun around.'

Jamrowski declined comment about the photo of his great-grandson.

Jordan Anchondo, left, holding her newborn baby Paul. She and husband Andre, right with Paul, just celebrated their first year wedding anniversary and had visited Walmart to pick up school supplies and party decorations when they were killed

As shots rang out, 25-year-old Jordan shielded baby Paul, pictured, as his dad Andre, 24, jumped in to protect his wife before both parents were shot and killed

The baby's slain parents are also survived by Jordan's two daughters, Skylin, five, and Victoria, two, from a previous relationship.

The first couple had gone to University Medical Center of El Paso to meet survivors when they posed with the child, who was brought to the medical facility by his relatives.

Some victims of the Walmart shooting did not want to meet the President when he visited the hospital, according to The El Paso Times.

Three of the eight survivors were unable to meet Trump because they were still too ill or because of a Spanish language barrier, Henry Gallardo, UMC's chair of the hospital board of managers was reported as saying. Another five declined the offer.

A group of mourners embrace after the funeral service for Jordan Anchondo on Saturday

From left, El Paso mayor Dee Margo speaks to the family of Andre Anchondo, prior to the funeral services of Jordan Anchondo. Andre and Jordan were among the several people killed last Saturday, when a gunman opened fire inside a Walmart packed with shoppers

'All of the victims were asked if they would be willing to have visitors, just like we do for all the other individuals that come through the hospital that come to visit,' Gallardo told the El Paso Times.

'In that particular situation, the protocol was exactly the same.'

White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said: 'The president and first lady met with victims of the tragedy while at the hospital.

She added: 'I'd also point you to the video the White House posted this evening, which shows the president and first lady being received very warmly by not just victims and their families, but by the many members of medical staff who lined the hallways to meet them. It was a moving visit for all involved.'