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Donald Trump Uses Pulse Orlando Shooting Anniversary To Self-Promote
[Image by White House Photographer/Public Domain]
However, the public has been watching, and is well aware there’s no honor in what Trump has done to the LGBTQ+ community in America. His actions as President only amplify the harms and risks, and social media users didn’t let his minimalist faux-recognition of these victims, sandwiched between self-congratulatory promotional tweets, go without comment.
Here’s a look back at how Trump responded to the Pulse Orlando shooting last year.
Horrific incident in FL. Praying for all the victims & their families. When will this stop? When will we get tough, smart & vigilant?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
Is President Obama going to finally mention the words radical Islamic terrorism? If he doesn't he should immediately resign in disgrace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
This was a tragedy that was about the LGBTQ+ community, about hate, about marginalization, about the dangers of not being cishet in 2016 America. Trump took it and made it about himself, his war on Islam, and his petty political opposition to Obama.
He even went on to warn that this attack was ‘just the beginning,’ adding a hint that the way to prevent further such attacks was to place him, Donald Trump, in power.
Meanwhile, the then-President of the United States, and his Vice President, Barack Obama and Joe Biden, paid their respects to the victims, placed flowers at the memorial, and released a statement of inclusion and of valuing all Americans.
Joe and I were talking on the way over here — you can’t make up the world into “us” and “them,” and denigrate and express hatred towards groups because of the color of their skin, or their faith, or their sexual orientation, and not feed something very dangerous in this world.
“So if there was ever a moment for all of us to reflect and reaffirm our most basic beliefs that everybody counts and everybody has dignity, now is the time.
A year later, Donald Trump is officially POTUS and is already doing harm to LGBT+ people.
In February, barely a month after entering office, NY Times reports that Trump revoked guidelines the Obama Administration had issued for protecting transgender students in thepublic school system. He has also appointed some of the most blatantly anti-LGBTQ+ individuals available to government positions. The Intercept has a great list of some of his staff’s anti-gay positions and actions. In short form, they’ve supported anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, supported funneling money into masures to harm LGBTQ+ people, and promoted propaganda that helps fight against LGBTQ+ rights.
Yet when the anniversary of this mass murder, this act of hate on a community that is growing and fighting for the right to be visible, the right to exist in as much safety as any other American, and the right to expect access to the same services and privileges as cishet Americans, rolled around, Trump ws ready to capitalize on it again, by tweeting in pretense of support.
We will NEVER FORGET the victims who lost their lives one year ago today in the horrific #PulseNightClub shooting. #OrlandoUnitedDay pic.twitter.com/OFFUVAFBJM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2017
He plopped the tweet down between two tweets promoting Fox News and Fox and Friends, one of those promoting an interview with his daughter Ivanka in which she complains that people are really mean to her daddy, and the other a self-congratulatory tweet promoting Trump’s own actions in opening a new coal mine, in 2017.
Ivanka on @foxandfriends now!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2017
Congratulations!
'First New Coal Mine of Trump Era Opens in Pennsylvania' https://t.co/aIRllxNLQA
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2017
Vice President Pence also retweeted the Pulse tweet. Not only did he squeeze it between two tweets centered around stroking Trump’s ego and reputation, he turned the tweet itself into a special moment to celebrate Donald Trump.
Under @POTUS Trump, America will be strong. We will be strong in our conviction that our cause is just and freedom is worth defending. pic.twitter.com/ao0w7WWFlf
— Vice President Pence (@VP) June 12, 2017
Well said @POTUS. We will never forget the victims of the terrorist attack in Orlando & we pray their loved ones find comfort & peace. https://t.co/GWhT8asFDj
— Vice President Pence (@VP) June 12, 2017
.@POTUS is keeping his word to the American people & has assembled a team bringing real change, real prosperity & real strength back to U.S. pic.twitter.com/4dOtaaXf9k
— Vice President Pence (@VP) June 12, 2017
The Twitterverse was, of course, on alert and didn’t let the faux mourning go unchallenged.
A great way to honor them would be by actually acknowledging Pride month.
— Alex Goldschmidt (@alexandergold) June 12, 2017
You *JUST* passed an executive order allowing discrimination against gay people by businesses under the guise of religious freedom!
— Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) June 12, 2017
We will also never forget how you made the shooting about you one year ago today. https://t.co/TYAhNUVn4h
— Adam Mordecai (@advodude) June 12, 2017
this ALL CAPS tweet does not absolve u frm throwing the entire LGBTQ comm. under the bus after your election. Liar!
— Dennis Herring (@dcherring) June 12, 2017
The cabinet you assembled perpetuates the hate and violence this attack comes from
Not including gays in the census you've forgotten already— Ethan Embry (@EmbryEthan) June 12, 2017
It's so strange to me that you'll speak out for these Americans after they are murdered but will fight against them while they are alive.
— Persistence Caucus (@JLez35) June 12, 2017
If you really cared about the Pulse victims you'd ensure that the LGBTQ spaces had equal rights and safe spaces to gather.
— Kristina Wong ❄️ (@mskristinawong) June 12, 2017
says the man who supports conversion therapy
— Tréa Lavery (@TreaLavery) June 12, 2017
No, u need to 🤐 u do not get to spew fake ❤️ and support for our community. #Hypocrite #liar #OrlandoStrong #OrlandoUnited #
— 4 Pawsome Dawgs (@4PawsomeDawgs) June 12, 2017
On the White House’s Facebook page, as well, where, as of Monday afternoon, no official mention of the Pulse Orlando murders had surfaced, members of the public addressed the President.
Where is ANYONE from this administration in the one year anniversary of the 49 people that were killed at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando? To this day, NO ONE in this administration has gone there to pay their respects ……..that’s disgusting!
Donald Trump and Mike Pence can offer their Twitter condolences while sitting back and signing off on further legislation to hurt the LGBTQ+ community, but they aren’t fooling anyone — and the American public is letting them know it.
