Donald Trump wasted no time seizing on the Brussels terrorist attacks to promote himself, and his critics were similarly quick to denounce him for it.
“For the love of God, we don’t even know how many people are dead: the story is NOT Donald Trump,” tweeted MSNBC’s Chris Hayes.
He was responding to Trump’s many hot takes on the tragedy that killed at least 31 people and wounded dozens. Among them was this tweet: “Do you all remember how beautiful and safe a place Brussels was. Not anymore, it is from a different world! U.S. must be vigilant and smart!”
Later, Trump tweeted video of himself saying in January that Brussels is “a hell hole” because Muslims there have not assimilated. On NBC’s “Today” show, he said the subject was “very dear and near to my heart because I’ve been talking about it certainly much more than anybody else and it’s why I’m probably No. 1 in the polls.”
Do you all remember how beautiful and safe a place Brussels was. Not anymore, it is from a different world! U.S. must be vigilant and smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2016
While online reaction ran the gamut, it was clear the comments did not sit well with many.
“Who’d vote for this dude,” asked one Twitter user.
The tweets are still coming in but here is a sampling:
For the love of God, we don't even know how many people are dead: the story is NOT Donald Trump.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) March 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/FollowRachelle/status/712340147321200641
https://twitter.com/Lloyd1nSpace/status/712339969474478080
https://twitter.com/bigstarlet/status/712339960884555777
Did #Trump just pick up an #ISIS endorsement? #Brussels #BrusselsAttacks
— Christiane Wilke 🍉 (@jaanewilke) March 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/jaimedash/status/712342152605356032
My CAT warned people about Brussels. @NolteNC @Thatsalrighty Did Trump also call Snow In Winter and Daffodils In Spring?
— dicentra (@dicentra33) March 22, 2016
https://twitter.com/coreybeasley/status/712344363800649728
Watch Donald Trump’s response to the Brussels terror attack on “Today.”