The New York Daily News came down hard on Donald Trump for playing golf as the families of the Florida high school shooting victims buried them nearby. Our president tore himself away from the golf course for two whole days, but the golfer-in-chief could not resist on the third day — ironically, Presidents Day. The nation noticed, and this is what happened.
The New York paper noted that Trump’s golf course is just 45 miles from the scene of stunned, mourning families and friends at the graveside of murdered children. The mass shooter killed 14 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students and three of the staff.
The man sitting in the Oval office had plenty of options. He could have attended one or more of the funerals. He could have grieved with the families. He could have even made a somber formal announcement from Mar-a-Lago. Instead, he pulled on a white polo shirt and cap and headed out for the links.
Two hours later Alaina Petty’s mourners went to church and remembered her smile. Brooklynn was her friend., and as she stood near the Coral Springs Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she said, according to The New York Daily News.:
‘It doesn’t feel real at all. It feels like you’ll walk into her, like, at the store or when you go into school the next day.’
Another classmate at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Hailey, told the newspaper:
‘She never had to study for any of the tests and she was just so kind to everyone. She never judged you based on what you were going through or who you were.’
They died when a student who had been expelled walked into the Parkland, FL high school carrying an AR-15. It is an assault weapon meant for killing people. Nikolas Cruz, 19, was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder.
The president met briefly with injured victims and first responders from the school shooting before retreating, according to the New York Daily News.
Then, the newspaper pointed out that Alaine Petty and Luke Hoyer died in the school massacre. Luke’s aunt, Joan Cox said:
‘He didn’t know what he wanted to do yet, He was just a freshman and was looking forward to high school.’
The NY Daily News was quick to note Trump’s hypocrisy. When President Barack Obama was in office, Trump tweeted:
‘What kind of President doesn’t get playing golf after a cruel beheading isn’t the thing to do? Detached from reality he is.’
Of course, Trump was widely critical of Obama, especially when 44 played golf. The newspaper pointed toward Trump’s series of tweets in 2014:
‘President Obama has a major meeting on the N.Y.C. Ebola outbreak, with people flying in from all over the country, but decided to play golf!’
‘We pay for Obama’s travel so he can fundraise millions so Democrats can run on lies. Then we pay for his golf.’
‘Obama has admitted that he spends his mornings watching @ESPN. Then he plays golf, fundraises & grants amnesty to illegals.’
The NY Daily News was harshly critical of 45 for attacking the FBI for not better investigating the mass shooter. He tweeted:
‘(The FBI is) spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign.’
Gina Montalto’s mother, Jennifer, had this to say about her daughter, 14, on a Facebook post, the paper noted:
‘(Gina) was a smart, loving, caring, and strong girl.’
Carmen Schentrup’s parents had this to say about their 16-year-old daughter:
‘(Carmen) was dedicated and accomplished. She was going to change the world.’
And so she will.
Featured Image via Getty Images/Joe Raedle.
