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Fact check: How did Trump respond when Democrat lawmakers were shot?

Checked on September 10, 2025

1. Summary of the results

The original statement inquires about Trump's response when Democrat lawmakers were shot. However, the majority of the analyses provided [1] [2] [3] discuss Trump's reaction to the shooting of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, which does not directly address the statement about Democrat lawmakers [1]. These sources report that Trump expressed his condolences and described the incident as 'horrific' and 'one of the most horrible things I’ve ever seen' [2]. In contrast, analyses from other sources [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] provide information on Trump's response to the 2017 shooting at a Congressional baseball practice, where he expressed gratitude for the heroism of the Capitol Police, prayed for the swift recovery of all victims, and commended the bravery of first responders [4]. These sources also report that Trump visited Rep. Steve Scalise, who was shot during the practice, and his family in the hospital, with Scalise describing Trump as a compassionate leader [7]. Trump's response to the shooting was measured and somber, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and instead focusing on unity, prayer, and support for the victims [8].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

A key piece of missing context is the specific incident being referred to in the original statement, as the analyses provided discuss two different shooting incidents: the shooting of Charlie Kirk and the 2017 Congressional baseball practice shooting [1] [4]. Additionally, the original statement does not provide information on the date or location of the incident, making it difficult to determine which shooting is being referred to [1]. Alternative viewpoints on Trump's response to the shooting are also present, with some sources portraying him as a compassionate leader who consoled the families of the victims [7], while others focus on his public statements and reactions to the incident [4]. Furthermore, the fact that the shooting at the Congressional baseball practice was carried out by James Hodgkinson, who targeted Republican lawmakers, adds another layer of complexity to the discussion, as it highlights the partisan nature of the incident [5].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement may contain potential misinformation or bias, as it does not specify which shooting incident it is referring to, and the majority of the analyses provided discuss a different incident than the one implied by the statement [1]. This lack of clarity could be intentional or unintentional, but it has the potential to mislead or confuse readers [2]. Additionally, the fact that the original statement specifically mentions Democrat lawmakers being shot, while the analyses discuss a shooting where Republican lawmakers were targeted, suggests that there may be a partisan bias present in the statement [5]. Overall, it is essential to consider multiple sources and viewpoints when evaluating the original statement, as this can help to clarify any potential misinformation or bias [8].

Want to dive deeper?
What was Trump's public statement after the Congressional baseball shooting on June 14, 2017?
How did Trump interact with Steve Scalise after the shooting?
What security measures were implemented after the Congressional baseball shooting?
Did Trump visit the victims of the Congressional baseball shooting at the hospital?
How did the Congressional baseball shooting affect Trump's relationship with Democrat lawmakers?