PRESIDENT Donald J. Trump insisted on visiting El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio in the wake of the two mass shootings that happened last weekend. These two latest mass shootings, which were less than 24 hours apart, claimed the lives at least 31 people and injured 53.
The two incidents marked 251 mass shootings in the U.S. , just on the 216th day of this year.
On August 5, the Monday after the massacre, Trump spoke to the American people using a teleprompter in the White House, he blamed hatred, mental illness, violent video games, movies, television programs, the media, past administrations, and said that “now is the time to set destructive partisanship aside — so destructive — and find the courage to answer hatred with unity, devotion and love.”
When news broke that Trump would be visiting El Paso and Dayton, the people of the grief-stricken communities told him he was not welcome in either city, and some victims and their families would not want to see him nor meet with him.
This is so painfully true in El Paso where the 21-year-old white male shooter used a powerful assault weapon to kill his target — Hispanics — out of hatred and contempt against immigrants, his manifesto revealed.
He told investigators he needed to kill as many Mexicans as possible because of their “invasion” of Texas.” This “Hispanic invasion” would echo Trump’s assertions to fire up his base in campaign rallies. In fact, many lines in the shooter’s manifesto sounded like they were lifted from Trump’s tweets.
The Texas Tribune reported that several Texas prominent officials and politicians including U.S. Representative Veronica Escobar and former Texas Rep., now Democratic presidential candidate, Beto O’Rourke have cited Trump’s divisive rhetoric for inspiring what officials have deemed an act of domestic terrorism.
The Trump administration said the president wanted to console the victims and their families. Brushing off criticisms before flying to El Paso and Dayton last Wednesday, Trump said he “brings people together” and wanted to “stay out of the political fray.”
And so on Wednesday, Trump visited hospitals in Dayton and El Paso, where some of the injured victims were confined. He had been welcomed with rallies, protests, with messages like “No assault weapons,” “Stand up to the NRA”, “We can end gun violence,” “Do something,” “Go home devil” and “Trump go home.”
There were Trump supporters who were upset about these protests and banded with fellow supporters who welcomed him with signs of their own, in red, white and blue: “Welcome Trump.” “He loves El Paso because El Paso loves him,” MSN reported.
However, Trump’s preaching of ‘love and unity,’ the idea that “he brings people together” and “staying out of the political fray” drama did not last long. Trump betrayed his own self during his visit to the grieving communities. After pleasantries, handshakes and photo-ops, Trump’s real motivation shone through, making some members of his own staff and administration officials deem the visit as “not ideal.”
As the Washington Post reported, “As Trump exchanges pleasantries with doctors and others at the University Medical Center of El Paso, the video shows him pausing to reminisce about dueling rallies that he and the Texas Democrat staged in El Paso in February focused on immigration and border security.”
“That was some crowd,” Trump said of his event. “We had twice the number outside. And then you had this crazy Beto. Beto had like 400 people in a parking lot, and they said his crowd was wonderful.”
Trump, who was supposed to help heal the people grieving and hurting because of the tragedy, was more consumed about attacking his political opponents on Twitter. He was live-tweeting his attacks against former Vice President Joe Biden who gave a speech while Trump was in Texas and Ohio. The president complained about local officials whom he considered political foes for allegedly “mischaracterizing his visit” and of course, he attacked his favorite boogeymen — the mainstream news media — with his usual “fake news” allegation because of the truth and the facts he did not want to be revealed.
Have you seen that picture posted by First Lady Melanie Trump where she was holding a baby? A senior White House official confirmed to CNN that the infant is the son of Jordan Anchondo, 24, and Andre Anchondo, 23, a young couple who were killed in last Saturday’s shooting at a Walmart in El Paso. Did you see President Trump grinning as he was making a thumbs-up sign standing there next to Melania?
As CNN reported, “Jordan Anchondo shielded her 2-month-old baby in her arms as she was shot, saving his life but sacrificing her own. Andre was killed as he attempted to jump in front of his wife to protect her.” Think about this: this poor baby lost his parents because a shooter opened fire, inspired by Trump’s rhetoric demonizing Hispanics. And now, Trump and Melanie are using this baby as a prop in their photo-opp?
This baby in Melania’s arms was already discharged from University Medical Center before Trump’s visit, but had to be brought back to meet the president and first lady in person, a hospital official told CNN’s Jim Acosta. The same official said Trump acted during the hospital visit with “an absence of empathy.”
The Washington Post reported, “President Trump grew angry with aides on Air Force One on Wednesday for failing to allow cameras to record his visits to hospitals treating the victims from two mass shootings, complaining that he was not receiving credit for the trips and his foes were dominating television news.”
Trump, when in front of the camera, gloated, “We had an amazing day,” Trump said in El Paso as he concluded his visit. “As you know, we left Ohio. The love, the respect for the office of the presidency.” And then he posted pictures from all the photo-ops in the hospital.
His White House Social Media Director Dan Scavino took aim at the Ohio officials on Twitter saying, “The President was treated like a Rock Star inside the hospital, which was all caught on video. They all loved seeing their great President!”
On Twitter, Trump said: “Leaving El Paso for the White House. What GREAT people I met there and in Dayton, Ohio. The Fake News worked overtime trying to disparage me and the two trips, but it just didn’t work. The love, respect & enthusiasm were there for all to see. They have been through so much. Sad!”
Yes, the visit to the grieving communities in El Paso and Dayton pivoted to him, Donald J. Trump. Of course, it is all about politics. It is all about “winning” no matter what the cost. It should and would always have to be about him.
He dishonored the memory of those who died and the pain of those who were injured and bereaved during his visit with his hateful and divisive rhetoric and his insatiable, unhinged self-love and self-aggrandizement.
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Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos
