Donald Trump condemned for using 'I hear you' cue card in meeting with Florida shooting survivors
Donald Trump has been condemned for holding a cue card reminding him to offer sympathy when he met survivors and families of the Florida school massacre.
The president took the card into a listening session at the White House, which was organised after 17 people were killed in a shooting at Marjory Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland last Wednesday.
The officially marked card also included the phrases: “What would you most want me to know about your experience?" and "What can we do to help you feel safe?"
A picture of the card in Mr Trump’s hands drew widespread criticism online, with many accusing him of feigning empathy.
Hillary Clinton’s political advisor, Adam Parkhomenko, wrote: "Trump brought Cliff notes to the gun violence listening session. Final note 'I hear you'".
While meeting with some of the victims from the Parkland school shooting Trump had a note of reminders of things to say. One of them: I hear you. Really??? You have to be reminded to pretend to care? SMDH pic.twitter.com/e0SbMk4IWw
— om (@oliviamunn) February 22, 2018
This is a real photo. Trump needed a cheat sheet written by someone else to remind him to say “I hear you” to people affected by gun violence. (source: https://t.co/zVCWSf0RCW) pic.twitter.com/IaQgOTJshI
— shauna (@goldengateblond) February 22, 2018
Twitter user Cveronica wrote: "What kind of person needs notes to show empathy to children who were under heavy fire from a maniac? Kids who lost 17 people in the time it took the killer to aim his rapid fire AR15".
Another person added: "Trump needed a cheat sheet written by someone else to remind him to say “I hear you” to people affected by gun violence."
To help him simulate human reactions, Trump's minders gave him a cheat sheet that prompted him to say things like "I hear you" during the WH listening session on the #Parkland shootings. [@AP Photo by Carolyn Kaster] pic.twitter.com/cEyVNDlvjU
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) February 21, 2018