PERRY, Iowa – Former President Donald Trump made controversial remarks regarding a deadly school shooting during a campaign event in Iowa, telling the audience to “get over it” just 36 hours after the tragic incident. The shooting at a high school in Perry, Iowa, resulted in the death of one student and seven others being wounded.
Trump’s comments sparked criticism from the Democratic Super Pac American Bridge, with the group’s communication director calling the former president’s remarks “beyond the pale.” This comes in the midst of Trump’s campaign stops in Iowa ahead of the Republican presidential primary caucuses on 15 January, despite facing legal challenges related to his 2020 election defeat and other legal issues.
The shooting in Perry has left the community in shock, with authorities identifying the shooter as a 17-year-old student who died from a self-inflicted bullet wound. Four wounded were students, two were faculty, and one was the principal, who is in critical condition but not facing life-threatening injuries. The incident took place shortly before classes resumed after the students’ holiday break, and police also found an improvised explosive device during a search of the school.
As Trump continues his political endeavors, the community and families affected by the Perry school shooting continue to mourn and seek healing from this senseless act of violence. The impact of such tragedies continues to draw attention to the ongoing societal concerns around gun violence and school safety in the United States, extending far beyond the realm of political rhetoric.