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Texas Walmart shooting: Rihanna condemns Trump response to US attacks – 'Nobody deserved to die like this'

US president has been widely condemned both for his reaction to the spate of shootings in the US, and for his rhetoric leading up to the events

Roisin O'Connor
Music Correspondent
Monday 05 August 2019 07:36 BST
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Governor of Texas Greg Abbott says El Paso shooting is 'One of the most deadly days in the history of Texas'

Rihanna has issued a damning response to Donald Trump after he tweeted his reaction to the deadly shootings in the US that took place this weekend.

At least nine people were killed after a gunman opened fire in Ohio on Saturday – just hours after a mass shooting at a Walmart shopping centre in El Paso, Texas by a suspected white supremacist.

Last week, four people were killed at the Gilroy Garlic Festival when a gunman opened fire in the Californian town last Monday.

Rihanna addressed the US president directly on Instagram and Twitter after he referred to the attack in Texas as a “tragedy”, writing: “Um… Donald, you spelt ‘terrorism’ wrong! Your country had 2 terrorist attacks back to back hours apart leaving almost 30 innocent people dead.

“This, just days after yet another terrorist attack in California, where a terrorist was able to LEGALLY purchase an assault rifle (AK-47) in Vegas, then drive hours to a food festival in Cali leaving 6 more people dead including a young infant baby boy! ‘Imagine a world where it’s easier to get an AK-47 than a VISA! ‘Imagine a world where they build a wall to keep terrorists IN AMERICA!!!”

She continued: “My prayers and deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all the victims from Texas, California, and Ohio! I’m so sorry for your loss! Nobody deserves to die like this! NOBODY!’”

Former Texas congressman Beto O’Rourke, who represented the district where the attack took place, also said that Trump bore some responsibility for the El Paso attack that left at least 20 people dead.

“He is a racist, and he stokes racism in this country,” he added. “It does not just offend our sensibilities; it fundamentally changes the character of this country and it leads to violence.”

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