The attack in a gay club in Orlando in the U.S. elicited mixed reactions from all over, but probably the most highlighted of them all was businessman-turned-US presidential candidate Donald Trump's statement on Twitter, in which he congratulated himself for being "right on radical Islamic terrorism."
"Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart! [sic]" Trump tweeted on Sunday. This and other tweets by him elicited major backlash from Twitterati.
"@realDonaldTrump And congrats on being the biggest dirtbag on the Internet - and in life, [sic]" said one Twitter user.
A gunman, who reportedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, on Sunday night opened fire at a Florida nightclub killing 50 people and injuring another 53. The attack on the LGBT community has grieved the nation and the community across the world.
Trump's response to the Florida attack, the worst mass shooting in the history of the U.S., was to ask for the resignation of President Barack Obama if he did not call the attack "radical Islamic terrorism." In a statement on Sunday, he also called for Hillary Clinton, who is in the race to become a POTUS candidate, to quit for not saying "radical Islam."
He said in the statement: "Hillary Clinton wants to dramatically increase admissions from the Middle East bringing in many hundreds of thousands during a first term — and we will have no way to screen them, pay for them, or prevent the second generation from radicalising."
He further used this tragic incident to push his presidential campaign, saying he, as president, would protect Americans of all backgrounds and beliefs.
"What has happened in Orlando is just the beginning. Our leadership is weak and ineffective. I called it and asked for the ban. Must be tough, [sic]" Trump tweeted.
Clinton, on the other hand, waited until Obama's statement, to tweet and issue her own statements about the terror attack, according to the New York Times. Her approach was to focus on condemning the terror attack and reorienting focus on stricter gun laws, which has been debated multiple times in the U.S. Congress, but has not been passed.
She responded with restraint, and assuring the LGBT community in her tweets that they have millions of allies across the U.S., including her.
