In the aftermath of two mass shootings that took place in El Paso,?? ??? Texas and Dayton, Ohio over the same 24-hour period, the U.S. is still grappling with what needs to be done now -- and where responsibility lies.
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke attended a vigil in El Paso on Sunday. He spoke to the community, and called for gun control laws that close background check loopholes and end the sale of assault weapons.
And then, according to audio posted by CNN's national political reporter Eric Bradner, O'Rourke was asked a question by an unnamed reporter as he was heading to his car: "Is there anything in your mind that the president can do now to make this any better?"
Rourke’s reply was, to say the least, frustrated.
"What do you think? You know the shit he’s been saying. He’s been calling Mexican immigrants rapists and criminals. I don’t know, like, members of the press, what the fuck?"
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"It’s these questions that you know the answers to," added O'Rourke. "I mean, connect the dots about what he’s been doing in this country. He’s not tolerating racism, he’s promoting racism. He’s not tolerating violence, he’s inciting racism and violence in this country. So, um, you know, I just— I don’t know what kind of question that is.”
At the time of writing, O'Rourke's response to that journalist's question has been retweeted almost 15,000 times.
SEE ALSO: Blood banks in El Paso are 'overwhelmed' by donations after mass shootingBradner also posted audio of the moment, in case you want to hear it for yourself.
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O'Rourke is one of several Democratic candidates who have criticised the president in the hours since the shootings took place, with many calling out Trump's divisive language and racist tweets.
In an official interview with CNN, O'Rourke bluntly called out Trump's past actions toward immigrants.
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"He is a racist and he stokes racism in this country and it does not just offend our sensibilities; it fundamentally changes the character of this country. And it leads to violence," he said.
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