Tessa Quinn
In February 2018, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited Broward Health North Hospital in Florida, where victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting were being treated. Trump was criticised for his demeanour during the visit, particularly for posing for photographs with hospital staff and police officers while flashing a thumbs-up and grinning broadly. Critics accused Trump of lacking empathy and being tone-deaf to the gravity of the situation, which resulted in the deaths of 17 people.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Occasion | Visit to Broward Health North Hospital, Florida, where victims of the recent Florida mass shooting were being treated |
| Attendees | Donald Trump, Melania Trump, hospital staff, victims and their families |
| Trump's Actions | Gave a thumbs-up gesture, posed for photos, thanked doctors and nurses, praised law enforcement officials and first responders |
| Criticism | Critics said Trump's upbeat gesture was tone-deaf and showed a lack of respect and empathy given the gravity of the situation |
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Trump's thumbs-up gesture criticised as tone-deaf
In February 2018, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited Broward Health North Hospital in Florida, where victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting were being treated. Seventeen people lost their lives in the attack, and 14 others were injured.
Trump's visit to the hospital was criticised for his demeanour in photos taken during the visit. The president was seen giving a thumbs-up and grinning broadly in pictures with hospital staff, police officers, and medics who responded to the shooting.
Critics said that Trump's upbeat gesture was tone-deaf and failed to address the gravity of the situation. Some suggested that the thumbs-up showed a lack of respect and empathy, especially given the seriousness of the incident.
Trump's thumbs-up gesture sparked outrage on Twitter, with people calling it insensitive and narcissistic. The president was also criticised for not addressing the issue of gun regulation reform during his visit to the hospital and for ignoring questions from reporters about potential changes to gun laws.
Trump's approach to the tragedy stood in sharp contrast to that of his predecessor, Barack Obama, who quickly attended an emotional vigil in Newtown, Connecticut, after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. Obama read aloud the names of each victim and called for tighter restrictions on gun ownership.
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Trump slammed for lack of empathy
On February 14, 2018, a mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, resulting in the deaths of 17 people and injuries to several others. In the aftermath of the tragedy, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited Broward Health North Hospital, where many of those wounded in the shooting were being treated.
During his visit, Trump met with hospital staff, survivors, and families of the victims. He also applauded the first responders to the scene, expressing gratitude and admiration for their swift and courageous actions. However, it was his demeanour in photographs from this visit that sparked widespread criticism and outrage. Trump was photographed giving a thumbs-up and grinning broadly while posing with police officers, medics, and victims' families.
Many people, including Democratic Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan, took to Twitter to express their disapproval of Trump's upbeat gesture and lack of empathy. They argued that the thumbs-up sign and smiling photos were inappropriate and tone-deaf given the gravity of the incident. Pocan's tweet echoed the sentiments of many, questioning how Trump could "stand there smiling and give a thumbs up when 17 Americans were killed in one of the nation's deadliest school shootings."
The criticism extended beyond the thumbs-up gesture, as some also pointed out Trump's failure to address the issue of gun regulation reform during his visit. This stood in sharp contrast to President Barack Obama's response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, where he publicly wept and called for tighter gun restrictions.
Trump's actions and inactions during this difficult time were seen by many as indicative of a lack of empathy and an inability to connect with the grief and sorrow felt by the families and the nation. While he acknowledged the sadness of the situation, his focus on praising first responders and his avoidance of gun control discussions left some feeling that he failed to adequately address the deeper concerns and emotions surrounding the tragedy.
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Trump criticised for not addressing gun law reform
In the wake of the tragic Florida high school shooting, President Donald Trump has been criticised for his upbeat thumbs-up gesture and grin in photos with police officers and medics. The incident, which took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, resulted in the deaths of 17 students. While visiting Broward Health North Hospital, where the wounded were treated, Trump posed for photos, congratulating the staff on their quick response. However, he faced backlash for failing to address the gravity of the situation and not meeting with the families of the victims.
Trump's actions were deemed tone-deaf and lacking in empathy by critics, including Democratic Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan, who questioned Trump's courage to stand up to the NRA and address much-needed gun law reforms. This incident reflects a broader pattern of Trump's approach to gun control, which has been characterised by a rejection of new gun-control legislation and a focus on fortifying security and addressing factors like mental health.
Trump's administration has prioritised armed enforcement and deregulation, doubling down on calls to arm school personnel and proposing bonuses for teachers carrying firearms. Despite public opinion strongly favouring gun safety reforms, Trump has downplayed calls for reform, characterising school shootings as a "fact of life". This stance has been praised by gun rights organisations but condemned by gun control groups, who warn of worsening America's gun violence crisis.
Trump's relationship with guns is complicated, as he is a convicted felon legally barred from possessing firearms or ammunition. However, there is uncertainty about whether he has surrendered his firearms. Notably, Trump has scorned gun safety regulations, even bragging during the 2024 campaign that he "did nothing" to restrict guns in his first term. He has dismissed proposals for assault weapon bans and stricter background checks, instead endorsing armed teachers and guards.
Trump's latest executive order on the Second Amendment further complicates matters, as it directs the Attorney General to review positions taken by the federal government that could affect Americans' Second Amendment rights. This order may lead to the government ceasing to defend certain firearm regulations, potentially impacting major aspects of the federal gun safety regime.
Trump's actions and inactions regarding gun law reform have sparked widespread criticism and concern, with many fearing that his administration's stance poses a significant threat to domestic safety and global norms surrounding arms regulation. Additionally, there have been accusations of corruption and terrifying gun law changes being sneaked into Trump's budget bill.
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Trump's demeanour in photos criticised
In February 2018, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump visited Broward Health North Hospital in Florida, where victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting were being treated. Trump was criticised for his demeanour in photos taken during the visit.
Trump posed for pictures with police officers and medics, giving a thumbs-up and grinning broadly. He also updated his Twitter banner with one of the images. Critics said that Trump's upbeat gesture was inappropriate, given the gravity of the incident, in which 17 students were shot dead.
On Twitter, people hit out at the president's gesture and wide grin while visiting the hospital. One user wrote: "To give a thumbs-up like you just had a great dinner. No empathy. Disgusting. Go away." Democratic Wisconsin Representative Mark Pocan tweeted: "How can you stand there smiling and give a thumbs up when 17 Americans were killed in one of the nation's deadliest school shootings?"
Trump's demeanour in the photos was seen as indicative of a lack of respect and empathy. Actor Misha Collins commented: "You are smiling ear-to-ear and giving a big thumbs-up in all of these pictures. Seems like you're just excited to be in front of the cameras." New Statesman deputy editor Helen Lewis said: "Yep, it happened. We got to see Trump's idea of a respectful, post-school-shooting Thumbs Up."
Trump's visit to the hospital was part of a three-day weekend in Palm Beach. He met with hospital staff, survivors of the shooting, and the families of victims. He thanked doctors and nurses for their work and told reporters: "I did indeed [meet with victims], and it's very sad that something like that could happen." However, he did not publicly greet the families of any of the children killed in the attack and did not address the issue of gun regulation reform.
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Trump's behaviour compared to Obama's
In the wake of the tragic Florida school shooting, where 17 students lost their lives, Donald Trump visited Broward Health North Hospital to meet survivors and the medical staff who treated them. Trump's upbeat and positive behaviour during this visit was criticised by many, who believed that his thumbs-up gestures and grinning in photographs were inappropriate and tone-deaf given the gravity of the incident. Trump was also criticised for failing to address the issue of gun regulation reform and for not publicly greeting the families of the children killed in the attack.
This behaviour stands in stark contrast to that of former President Barack Obama, who, in the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, famously wept at a White House press conference where he called for tighter gun restrictions. Obama's response to the tragedy was widely seen as empathetic and respectful, acknowledging the gravity of the situation and taking steps to address the underlying issues.
Obama has also been critical of the Trump administration's immigration policies, arguing that they are 'consistent with autocracies' and that the behaviour of the administration is 'not consistent with American democracy'. Obama's comments highlight a fundamental difference in their approaches to leadership and governance, with Obama prioritising democratic values, empathy, and respect, while Trump's behaviour has often been seen as divisive, authoritarian, and lacking in empathy.
Obama's approval rating when he left office was a solid 59%, with a high of 69% in 2009, ranking him as the second-most-popular politician after Jimmy Carter. This indicates that Obama's behaviour in office was generally well-received by the public, and he is often looked back on nostalgically as a strong and respected leader.
In summary, Trump's behaviour during the Florida hospital visit was criticised as inappropriate and lacking in empathy, while Obama's behaviour in similar situations has been praised for its solemnity and respect. Obama is also known for his commitment to democratic values and his willingness to speak out against the normalisation of autocratic behaviour, further highlighting the differences in their leadership styles and their approaches to addressing national tragedies.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Trump gave a thumbs up during a visit to a Florida hospital where victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting were treated.
Trump received backlash for his thumbs up gesture, with critics saying that the pictures were "tone-deaf" and that he failed to address the gravity of the situation.
No, Trump did not publicly address the issue of gun regulation reform during his visit to the hospital.
Trump did not greet the families of any of the children killed in the attack. However, he did meet with a victim and her family and shared a smiling photo op.
