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By Nick Mordowanec
Staff Writer
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Partisans on both sides of the political aisle are entrenched in a war of words following statements made regarding prayer and its efficacy in preventing mass shootings—part of a broader decades-long conversation surrounding gun violence and gun control, the Second Amendment and safety in schools across America.
Why It Matters
Tensions remain high following Wednesday's mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 17 others.
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There have been at least 286 mass shootings in the U.S. this year as of Wednesday, according to data compiled by CNN and the Gun Violence Archive. A mass shooting is defined as an attack that kills four or more people, not including the shooter.
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What To Know
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey told gathered media in the event's aftermath: "These were American families, and the amount of pain that they are suffering right now is extraordinary. Don't just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying."
Frey's statement regarding "thoughts and prayers" has drawn scrutiny from some conservatives online, on sites like X. Some of the highest officials in government took notice.
"It is shocking to me that so many left wing politicians attack the idea of prayer in response to a tragedy," Vice President JD Vance posted on X. "Literally no one thinks prayer is a substitute for action. We pray because our hearts are broken and we believe that God is listening."
Vance elaborated during an interview on Fox News, saying, "When I see far-left politicians say, 'How dare you offer thoughts and prayers, you need action. I don't care about your prayers, I care about what you are going to do to prevent this from happening.' Why does it have to be one or the other? Why can't you pray for the speedy recovery of these kids who literally just got shot yesterday?"
Other Democrats, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki, now an MSNBC host, echoed Frey's remarks.
"We cannot even make it through the first week of school without mass shootings," Newsom said on X. "And the @GOP will continue to do absolutely nothing while our kids are being gunned down. This is sick."
Psaki said: "Prayer is not freaking enough. Prayers does not end school shootings. prayers do not make parents feel safe sending their kids to school. Prayer does not bring these kids back. Enough with the thoughts and prayers."
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told gathered media on Thursday during a press conference: "I saw the comments of Ms. Psaki and frankly I think they're incredibly insensitive and disrespectful to the tens of millions of Americans of faith across this country who believe in the power of prayer, who believe that prayer works."
Karen Hamilton, a Republican nominee for the Virginia House of Delegates, replied to Psaki by calling her a "spiritually blind person."
"Today I attended the funeral of a baby, and often when parents are in the depths of grief, Jesus is their greatest comforter," Hamilton said. "You should investigate why that is, rather than belittling it."
CNN conservative commentator Scott Jennings called Democrats' remarks "cruel."
"I had a negative reaction to [Frey's] statements today," Jennings said Wednesday night on CNN. "I think it's wrong, frankly, to vilify or attack people of faith. You said 'thoughts and prayers ring hollow.' I say thoughts and prayers are the most solid on days of tragedy for people who live their faith every day....There are probably people praying harder for comfort today than they have ever prayed in their life."
Another conservative commentator, Megan Basham, criticized Psaki in a post and reverted the conversation from praying to transgenderism.
"Your party encourages mental illness in telling men they can be women, then encourages them identify as victims when the world does not indulge their perverse fantasies, and then screams 'prayers are not enough' when insane transgenders shoot up schools," Basham said.
The shooter, identified by authorities as 23-year-old Robin Westman, wrote "Kill Donald Trump" and other messages on a rifle magazine, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on social media.
Theories have abounded regarding Westman's gender and identification. Court records reviewed by Newsweek show that Westman was granted a name change from Robert to Robin in 2020. A judge approved the petition signed by Westman's mother that said the "minor child identifies as a female and wants her name to reflect that identification."
What People Are Saying
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz: "It's my strongest desire that no state, no community, no school, ever experiences a day like this. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, but also keep us in the thoughts for action. Keep us in the ideas that we can work together."
FBI Director Kash Patel, on X: "The FBI is investigating this shooting as an act of domestic terrorism and hate crime targeting Catholics. There were 2 fatalities, an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old. In addition, 14 children and 3 adults were injured. The shooter has been identified as Robin Westman, a male born as Robert Westman.
Representative Ilhan Omar, a Minneapolis Democrat, accused elected leaders of being: "more concerned with appeasing the gun lobby than keeping our children safe."
Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, told CNN's Dana Bash: "If a bunch of kids praying in church and shot down through the windows of that church and locked into that by a madman isn't enough to make people move, I just don't know what is anymore."
What Happens Next
The FBI's investigation into the shooting is ongoing, according to Patel, and the bureau will provide updates as warranted.
Update 8/28/25, 5:46 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional remarks from Karoline Leavitt.
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