PERRY, Iowa – Former US President Donald Trump expressed his condolences to the families of the victims of the recent Iowa school shooting, calling the incident “terrible” and “horrible”. The tragedy, which occurred just days before the Iowa caucuses, resulted in the death of a sixth-grade student and left several others injured.
During a campaign rally in Sioux Center, Trump urged the residents of Iowa to move forward despite the shocking incident. The suspected shooter, identified as 17-year-old student Dylan Butler, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to officials.
Following the tragedy, social media users criticized Trump for his remarks, with some calling them “incredibly insensitive”. Meanwhile, Trump’s GOP rivals in Iowa also extended their condolences and joined the call for mental health reform.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley emphasized the need for mental health reform in the wake of the school shooting, stating, “We have to deal with the cancer that is mental health.”
Furthermore, GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the deeper societal crisis behind such incidents.
As the Iowa community grapples with the aftermath of the tragic shooting, the incident serves as a sobering reminder of the need for mental health reform and the ongoing conversation surrounding gun control policies at local and state levels.