President Trump’s first trip to Paris since his election marks a critical diplomatic moment between the U.S. and France after two years of devastating terrorist attacks, including when he insulted Charlie Hebdo on the day of a mass shooting at the magazine.
Trump tweeted condolences to the French people after the separate attacks on Charlie Hebdo, the Bataclan Theater, and Nice. However, Trump has an equally long history of issuing responses that highlight his criticisms of policies he views as contributing factors.
My condolences and prayers to the victims of the terrorist attack in Paris.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2015
My prayers are with the victims and hostages in the horrible Paris attacks. May God be with you all.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2015
My prayers and condolences to the victims and families of the terrible tragedy in Nice, France. We are with you in every way!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2016
Trump’s tweets in the aftermath of these acts of violence have generated controversy and led to polarizing interpretations of his responses.
After the Charlie Hebdo attacks, Trump tweeted criticisms of Paris’ strict gun control policy, adding if French citizens were armed, then they would have “a fighting chance.” Trump also took the opportunity to criticize Charlie Hebdo as a publication about one week after the attack.
If the morons who killed all of those people at Charlie Hebdo would have just waited, the magazine would have folded – no money, no success!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2015
Charlie Hebdo reminds me of the “satirical” rag magazine Spy that was very dishonest and nasty and went bankrupt. Charlie was also broke!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 14, 2015
Isn’t it interesting that the tragedy in Paris took place in one of the toughest gun control countries in the world?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2015
If the people so violently shot down in Paris had guns, at least they would have had a fighting chance.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2015
Days later, Trump went on “Fox & Friends” to criticize President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry for not attending a march in Paris against radical Islamic terrorism. The march featured former French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Trump continued his criticism of the president’s handling of ISIS by saying “[Obama] is just so bad” on the morning of Nov. 14, 2015, one day after 130 people were killed. Less than a week later, Trump tweeted out a self-congratulatory message regarding his immigration policies.
Everyone is now saying how right I was with illegal immigration & the wall. After Paris, they’re all on the bandwagon.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2015
When a bus ran over pedestrians and killed 89 people in Nice on July 14, 2016, Trump tweeted twice after issuing his condolences. In the first, he asked “when will we learn? It is only getting worse,” before tweeting that he rescheduled his announcement for his vice presidential candidate.
Another horrific attack, this time in Nice, France. Many dead and injured. When will we learn? It is only getting worse.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2016
In light of the horrible attack in Nice, France, I have postponed tomorrow’s news conference concerning my Vice Presidential announcement.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 14, 2016
