President Donald Trump is dealing with heavy backlash after delivering glowing tributes to slain right-wing activist Charlie Kirk sooner or later, then showing upbeat at a public simply the subsequent day.
The jarring distinction has left critics questioning whether or not Trump’s grief is real — with some suggesting he seemed extra relieved than heartbroken.
On Wednesday, Trump hailed Kirk, 31, as “Nice, and even Legendary” and “a GIANT of his era” following his assassination throughout a speech at Utah Valley College, in Orem, Utah.
“Charlie was liked and admired by ALL, particularly me,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Fact Social, providing condolences to Kirk’s widow, Erika, and household.
However by Thursday night time, Trump was noticed at Yankee Stadium in New York, the place he swayed and sang alongside to seemingly certainly one of his favourite songs the “YMCA” throughout a recreation in opposition to the Detroit Tigers.
Video from the ballpark confirmed Trump having a jolly time clapping, elevating his arms, and mouthing lyrics, at the same time as followers round him booed when his picture flashed on the large display screen. Whereas some cheers might be heard, the group’s response was largely detrimental. The Yankees had noticed a second of silence earlier than the sport in Kirk’s honor, however the sight of Trump dancing the next inning struck many as tone-deaf.
The environment was additional heightened by uncommon safety measures. Bulletproof glass panels had been put in in entrance of Trump’s suite, and snipers had been positioned all through the stadium. The additional safety got here amid heightened considerations following Kirk’s killing and solely amplified the surreal tone of the night time.
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Social media erupted with mockery.
“Charlie Kirk dies, Trump exhibits up on the Yankees recreation. Solely in America does politics combine grief, baseball, and bulletproof glass in a single inning,” one person wrote.
One person gave Trump the advantage of the doubt, “To be truthful that’s his jam 😭”
“Do you suppose Donald Trump cares in any respect about Charlie Kirk?” one other requested, as critics accused the president of prioritizing optics over mourning.
“He can’t thank Charlie sufficient for actually taking a bullet for him to divert the strain for launch of the Epstein information,” one other commenter posted, referencing Kirk’s vocal requires the federal government to publish the DOJ’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation paperwork with out redactions.
One other added, “Nope, he’s most likely relieved this occurred. Instantly after requesting all right-wing influencers to cease pushing for the Epstein information, Charlie Kirk did in any other case and referred to as for them to be launched and fully unredacted.”
Kirk had been outspoken in regards to the Epstein information within the weeks main as much as his loss of life, telling audiences at certainly one of his many outside engagements with college-aged followers, “We because the American folks need to have each Epstein file launched with no redaction in any respect. We need to see the complete consumer checklist, each doc the federal government has relating to the Epstein information.”
The timing of his loss of life, coupled with the White Home’s latest denials about Trump’s previous ties to Epstein, has fueled hypothesis that Kirk’s loss of life relieved strain on the administration.
Critics additionally seized on Trump’s shifting tone. The day after the Yankees recreation, when requested by reporters how he was holding up, Trump replied, “I believe superb,” earlier than veering off into boasting in regards to the building of a brand new White Home ballroom. To detractors, the remark underscored an absence of real grief.
One other stored their conspiracy easy for Trump’s motion, “celebrating his profitable hit”
Others zeroed in on Trump’s demeanor. “Holy SHT the way in which Kirk’s spouse thanked Trump with tears in her eyes, calling him pal, saying Kirk knew Trump cared about him,” one viral publish learn. “In the meantime, Trump is giving zero f**s and never having a single considered him lol.”
Kirk’s spouse gave a tearful speech Friday night throughout a livestream on the YouTube web page of Turning Level USA, the activist group her husband based. Talking to her husband’s killer, she mentioned, “The evil-doers for my husband’s assassination do not know what they’ve carried out. You don’t have any concept the hearth that you’ve ignited inside this spouse.”
