Following two mass shootings this weekend, the hashtag #TrumpsTerrorists trended on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, with thousands of Americans blaming President Donald Trump for allegedly encouraging violence against immigrants with his racial rhetoric.
A gunman, identified as 21-year-old Patrick Crusius, opened fire at a Walmart near the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas on Saturday, leaving 20 dead and at least 26 others injured. Authorities told the Washington Post that they were investigating a manifesto, allegedly written by the shooter, that contains strong anti-immigration sentiments and sympathy for the Christchurch shooter, an Australian gunman involved in attacks on New Zealand mosques that left 49 dead earlier this year.
Hours later, on Sunday morning, a separate shooter killed nine in Dayton, Ohio.
Although the president denounced both shootings as "senseless attacks" and condemned "these hateful and cowardly acts," 2020 Democratic candidates and various other politicians disagreed over whether Trump's inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants had encouraged the hate and violence in the El Paso shooting.
Trump "is a racist and he stokes racism in this country," former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke said on Saturday. "And it does not just offend our sensibilities, it fundamentally changes the character of this country and it leads to violence."
Meanwhile, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney defended the president, saying the El Paso shooter "felt this way a long time before Donald Trump got elected president."
Twitter users used the hashtag #TrumpsTerrorists on Sunday to weigh in on the issue, with thousands condemning the president for allegedly inciting violence and some defending him.
"Trump is now deleting his tweets calling immigrants an 'invasion' now that he inspired the El Paso shooter to murder 20 people to 'stop the Hispanic invasion of Texas.' Sorry @realDonaldTrump, but the internet is forever. #TrumpsTerrorists," Andrew Wortman tweeted, alongside screenshots of the president's tweets.
Trump is now deleting his tweets calling immigrants an âinvasionâ now that he inspired the El Paso shooter to murder 20 people to âstop the Hispanic invasion of Texas.â Sorry @realDonaldTrump, but the internet is forever.#TrumpsTerrorists pic.twitter.com/yeiZjcjve8 — Andrew Wortman (@AmoneyResists) August 4, 2019
"Trump just deleted all of these tweets that called immigrants 'invaders'. Please don't share them everywhere you possibly can. It will upset him and he won't enjoy his golf game this afternoon. #EnoughIsEnough #WhiteSupremacistTerrorism #ThisIsAmerica #TrumpsTerrorists," Holly Figueroa O'Reilly tweeted.
Trump just deleted all of these tweets that called immigrants "invaders".
Please don't share them everywhere you possibly can. It will upset him and he won't enjoy his golf game this afternoon.#EnoughIsEnough #WhiteSupremacistTerrorism #ThisIsAmerica #TrumpsTerrorists https://t.co/eJcepe3hqd — Holly Figueroa O'Reilly (@AynRandPaulRyan) August 4, 2019
"BREAKING: President Donald Trump takes a break from golfing, to praise the fine work of his devoted proteges; Patrick Crusius and Connor Betts. #TrumpsTerrorists," Paul Lee Ticks tweeted, alongside a short video of Trump holding up photoshopped images of the shooters. The president's hands were also photoshopped to be covered in blood.
BREAKING: President Donald Trump takes a break from golfing, to praise the fine work of his devoted proteges; Patrick Crusius and Connor Betts.#TrumpsTerrorists pic.twitter.com/xNsh1BxDIR — Paul Lee Ticks (@PaulLeeTicks) August 4, 2019
"Just to be 100% clear: Trump's MAGA hats are the modern-day all-in-one prime selection for white hood plus white robe plus swastika. There's no way around it. #TrumpsTerrorists," Andrea Junker tweeted.
Just to be 100% clear: Trumpâs MAGA hats are the modern-day all-in-one prime selection for white hood plus white robe plus swastika.
Thereâs no way around it. #TrumpsTerrorists — Andrea Junker (@Strandjunker) August 4, 2019
"These are #TrumpsTerrorists, aided and abetted by #MassacreMitch," Twitter user @4everNeverTrump wrote.
"I don't want to hear one word from Trump supporters. There has been a SURGE in hate crimes since that racist took office. now. #TrumpsTerrorists," Twitter user @bobbitz57 wrote.
I don't want to hear one word from Trump supporters. There has been a SURGE in hate crimes since that racist took office. The blood is on HIS hands now. #TrumpsTerrorists pic.twitter.com/D0FLXLseoK — Christine Peace (@bobbitz57) August 4, 2019
"And his hateful racist rhetoric (steeped in his jealousy of how loved @BarackObama still is) keeps getting Americans killed while they shop or celebrate. His legacy is one of death, deception, & destruction. #ImpeachmentInquiryNow #TrumpsTerrorists," writer Tara Dublin tweeted.
And his hateful racist rhetoric (steeped in his jealousy of how loved @BarackObama still is) keeps getting Americans killed while they shop or celebrate. His legacy is one of death, deception, & destruction ð¤¬#ImpeachmentInquiryNow #TrumpsTerrorists https://t.co/7IpnWpiKuk — Tara Dublin (@taradublinrocks) August 4, 2019
Some Trump supporters also used the hashtag to defend the president from his opponents.
"Wow... in the wake of 2 horrific mass shootings, leftists have decided to blame everything on President Trump and White People. How can we possibly come together as a nation to help these people when we are being divided like this? #WhiteSupremacistTerrorism #TrumpsTerrorists," author Nick Adams tweeted.
Wow...in the wake of 2 horrific mass shootings, leftists have decided to blame everything on President Trump and White People.
How can we possibly come together as a nation to help these people when we are being divided like this?#WhiteSupremacistTerrorism #TrumpsTerrorists — Nick Adams (@NickAdamsinUSA) August 4, 2019
"STOP making the El Paso & Dayton SHOOTINGS ABOUT POLITICS! #EnoughIsEnough #TrumpsTerrorists Trending? This has nothing to do with the President & TX shooter was an Extreme Leftist #WhiteSupremacistTerrorism," comedian Terrence K. Williams tweeted.
STOP making the El Paso & Dayton SHOOTINGS ABOUT POLITICS! #EnoughIsEnough
#TrumpsTerrorists Trending? This has nothing to do with the President
& TX shooter was an Extreme Leftist #WhiteSupremacistTerrorism #GunControlNow donât forget to mention the 1500 shot in Chicago pic.twitter.com/J6BSJOCoie — Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) August 4, 2019
"So if I tell someone to jump off a cliff, and they jump off a cliff. Is it my fault? NO, IT'S THE GUY'S FAULT I DIDN'T FORCE HIM TO JUMP DID I? Trump NEVER incited violence to anyone. #TrumpsTerrorists," Twitter user @PabloILCT wrote.
Moonpenny on August 5th, 2019 at 02:11 UTC »
Meanwhile, Ted Cruz tries to get a bill passed to designate Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization.
macncheesy1221 on August 5th, 2019 at 00:17 UTC »
How many of these have to happen till election day? They cant defend their extremist views, even then who the fuck is defending these guys? Its homegrown terrorism and like any terrorism its hard to solve and fix.
Gfairservice on August 4th, 2019 at 23:42 UTC »
3 shootings today. THREE. That makes 4 in 24 hours. What the fuck.
Edit: Ohio, Texas, and 2 in Chicago were called "mass shootings" source: I googled "mass shootings in the us in 2019"
Edit edit: I should clarify I wasnt blaming a side. Y'all too worried about being right. The point is there are shootings, and there needn't be.