How hypocritical at worst, or clueless at best, for President Trump to say after the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, “It’s a terrible, terrible thing what’s going on with hate in our country … something has to be done.”
He is the person who has as President elevated hate in this country to never-before-seen levels. He has either directly promoted hate and fear, as towards immigrants and towards his opponents and those who criticize him, or condoned it, as in the case of the Charlottesville alt-right rally.
The result is a documented increase in hate crimes since his nomination. As the midterm elections approach, he has ratcheted up his tirade against both immigrants and foes in an effort to mobilize his base. And people are responding at his rallies with an almost feverish fervor. And unfortunately also action. There's been the mailing of pipe bombs to people who Trump routinely lambasts for their criticisms of him, and now the mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue by a rabid alt-right anti-semite.
For Trump not to see the connection between his constant tirades and the rise of hate in our country is an example of his refusal to take responsibility for his actions, unless of course they result in something he likes taking credit for. He doesn’t want to see himself as a person who spreads hate, but that’s exactly what he does.
