President Donald Trump and former Democratic Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke exchanged insults Wednesday on Twitter ahead of the president’s visit to El Paso, Texas.
The city was shaken over the weekend when a gunman shot up a local Walmart, killing 22 people and injuring 26. O’Rourke, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, has repeatedly blamed the president’s rhetoric for the tragedy, and Wednesday morning Trump fired back, saying O’Rourke should “respect the victims…& be quiet!” (RELATED: ‘You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me’: El Paso Victim Shocked When Realizing ‘Gun-Wielding’ Mother Left Firearm At Home)
Beto (phony name to indicate Hispanic heritage) O’Rourke, who is embarrassed by my last visit to the Great State of Texas, where I trounced him, and is now even more embarrassed by polling at 1% in the Democrat Primary, should respect the victims & law enforcement – & be quiet!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2019
O’Rourke responded by once again blaming Trump for the shooting. (RELATED: Texas Lt. Gov Warns Far-Left Group: ‘Stay Out Of Texas’ In Wake Of Walmart Shooting)
“22 people in my hometown are dead after an act of terror inspired by your racism,” O’Rourke said. “El Paso will not be quiet and neither will I.”
O’Rourke has repeatedly accused Trump of being a racist and a white supremacist, saying his words inspired the anti-immigrant manifesto of the alleged shooter.
Trump has repeatedly condemned white supremacy and did so again Monday when addressing the nation.
“The shooter in El Paso posted a manifesto online consumed by racist hate. In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry, and white supremacy,” Trump said. “These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America. Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart and devours the soul.”