Former White House press secretary and current MSNBC host Jen Psaki launched a blistering attack on US President Donald Trump on Wednesday, accusing them of offering only “thoughts and prayers” in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Minneapolis.In a strongly worded post on X, Psaki dsaid traditional calls for prayer not enough, targeting Trump administration’s condolatory remarks on the Annunciation school shooting. “Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers do not end school shootings. Prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers,” she wrote.Psaki, who served as President Joe Biden’s press secretary, accused American leaders of falling into a repetitive cycle after every mass shooting. “Like clockwork, half the politicians in our country have little more to offer than thoughts and prayers — that is all they are offering,” she said during her MSNBC segment.She singled out Trump and Vance for limiting their initial responses to urging the public to join them in prayer. “We have seen this play out over and over. There is a shooting, then come the thoughts and prayers and then comes the attempt to shift the focus,” Psaki added, warning that discussions about the shooter’s transgender identity were being used as a distraction from the larger issue of gun control.Her remarks sparked a sharp reaction online, with critics accusing her of politicising a tragedy and showing disrespect toward faith-based traditions of mourning.“I don’t expect a spiritually blind person to understand prayer, but it is real. Today I attended the funeral of a baby, and often when parents are in the depths of grief, Jesus is their greatest comforter. You should investigate why that is, rather than belittling it,” Karen Hamilton, a candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, said in response. Authorities said two children, aged 8 and 10, were killed and at least 17 injured in Minneapolis school shooting when the gunman opened fire during Mass at the Annunciation Catholic School. The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman was found dead due to self-inflicted injuries.
