One of the survivors of the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week dismissed Trump’s attempts to offer his condolences as disingenuous.
Samantha Fuentes has shot both legs during the assault on Valentine’s day, after gunman Nikolas Cruz opened fire on his former classmates and teachers.
The 18-year-old has been dismissed from the hospital but was left with a piece of shrapnel behind her right eye.
Fuentes told the New York Times just after being discharged that she felt no reassurance when Trump called her in her hospital room last week.
Samantha Fuentes was shot in both legs during the assault and was left with a piece of shrapnel behind her right eye said she felt no reassurance when Trump called her at her hospital room last week
‘He said he heard that I was a big fan of his, and then he said: “I’m a big fan of yours too.” I’m pretty sure he made that up’ Fuentes said after being discharged from the hospital.
‘Talking to the president, I’ve never been so unimpressed by a person in my life. He didn’t make me feel better in the slightest,’ Fuentes told the New York Times
President Trump is pictured with his head down as he listens to survivors and their families. Fuentes said Trump referred to Cruz as ‘a sick puppy’ and ‘said “oh boy, oh boy, oh boy,” like, seven times.’
‘Talking to the president, I’ve never been so unimpressed by a person in my life. He didn’t make me feel better in the slightest.’
She also said Trump referred to Cruz as ‘a sick puppy’ and ‘said “oh boy, oh boy, oh boy,” like, seven times.’
Trump was also widely criticized as being disingenuous when a photo emerged that revealed he was holding a card with talking points – one of which read: ‘I hear you.’
The card seemed to suggest Trump needed to be reminded to offer his condolences to the people impacted by the 17 lost lives at the Florida high school.
Other questions that were also visible on the card included: ‘What would you most want me to know about your experience?’ and ‘What can we do to help you feel safe?’
Colleagues said the notes were written by communications director and longtime aide Hope Hicks – who, along with press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, briefed the president before the session.
They knew he could potentially be going into a volatile and emotional situation – but decided to allow news stations to broadcast the meeting anyway.
‘I HEAR YOU’: During his meeting with survivors and parents of the Parkland school massacre at the White House on Wednesday, Trump carried a cue card
Other questions that were also visible on the card included: ‘What would you most want me to know about your experience?’ and ‘What can we do to help you feel safe?’
And a participant at the president’s round-table meeting at the White House on Wednesday, 18-year-0ld Samuel Zeif, agreed with Fuentes and said that he was shocked to see the president’s cue card.
‘Everything I said was directly from the heart, and he had to write down “I hear you,”‘ he said, frustrated.
Zeif survived the massacre, and spoke at the meeting about his experience tearfully, calling for an all-out ban on assault weapons like the AR-15 Cruz used to take out his former classmates.
He told the Times that though he spoke from the heart, he felt Trump did little to comfort or console him.
‘Half the time during that meeting, his arms were crossed,’ he explained.
‘I kept wanting to say “Mr. President, uncross your arms.” To me that is the international sign for close-mindedness; it’s really just a big ‘no.'”
And a participant at Wednesday’s White House meeting, Stoneman Douglas student Zamuel Zeif (pictured), said that he thought the president seemed standoffish
Zeif told the Times that though he spoke from the heart, he felt Trump did little to comfort or console him. ‘Half the time during that meeting, his arms were crossed,’ he explained
Samuel Zeif, an 18-year-old student who survived the massacre, spoke at the meeting about his experience tearfully and called for an all-out ban on assault weapons
However, parent and avid Trump supporter Andrew Pollack said Trump showed he and his family ‘nothing but love.’
Pollack’s 18-year-old daughter was killed in the massacre last week, and he said he brought a picture of her along with him to the visit. He, his wife, two sons, and Meadow’s longtime boyfriend met with Trump briefly before the group meeting.
‘The guy really cared, you know? He flew us in, he had a bus waiting for us, he made time for us,’ Pollack said.
‘He took pictures of my daughter that we bought and he said he was going to look at it every day.’‘
Trump signed Pollack’s white and gold ‘MAGA’ Hat, and then took him and his family members on a tour of the White House.
‘He just said, “You guys are coming with me,” and we were just talking about life as we walked,’ Pollack explained.
‘He’s a regular guy. I wouldn’t have been there if I didn’t think he cared.’
However, parent and avid Trump supporter Andrew Pollack, said Trump showed he and his family ‘nothing but love.’ Pollack is seen on the day of the shooting, holding up a picture of his daughter, whom he had not been able to contact since the massacre that claimed 17 lives
Pollack’s 18-year-old daughter was killed in the massacre last week, and he said he brought a picture of her along with him to the visit. He, his wife, two sons, and Meadow’s longtime boyfriend met with Trump briefly before the group meeting
Andrew Pollack (center), who is an avid Trump supporter, described how his daughter Meadow Pollack was shot nine at last week’s deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was joined by his sons at Wednesday’s White House event
Pollack ended up attending the meeting, where he expressed his frustration that nothing had been done to address gun control.
‘I’m very angry that this happened because it keeps happening,’ the bereaved father said, declaring that 9/11 ‘happened once, and they fixed everything. How many schools, how many children have to get shot?’
‘The guy really cared, you know? He flew us in, he had a bus waiting for us, he made time for us,’ Pollack said. ‘He took pictures of my daughter that we brought and he said he was going to look at it every day
Pollack told Trump, ‘It stops here with this administration and me. I’m not going to sleep until it’s fixed. And Mr. President, we’re going to fix it. Because I’m going to fix it. I’m not going to rest.
‘Fix it! It should have been one school shooting and we should have fixed it! And I’m pissed! Because my daughter I’m not going to see again. She’s not here. She’s not here. She’s at, in North Lauderdale, in King David Cemetery. That’s where I go to see my kid now.’
After listening to parents like Pollack for some time, Trump said he’d be looking at making concealed carry permits available to teachers, which he admitted after asking for a show of support is certainly ‘controversial.’
Trump also endorsed stricter background checks and pledged his administration to consider age limits for the purchase of semi-automatic rifles like the one the Parkland shooter used and new measures to treat mentally ill individuals.
‘We’re going to pick out the strongest ideas, the most important ideas, the ideas that are going to work and we’re going to get them done,’ the president said. ‘It’s not going to be talk like it’s been in the past. It’s going on too long. Too many instances. And we’re going to get it done.’
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