California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom criticized House Speaker Kevin McCarthy after he refused to answer questions from reporters about the recent mass shooting at a school in Nashville, Tennessee.
McCarthy was caught on camera walking away from reporters who asked him if there would be a legislative response to the violence at The Covenant School, where three 9-year-old students and three adults were killed by a former student who was later killed by the police.
CNN’s chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju tweeted the video of McCarthy, which went viral.
You can see the footage of McCarthy avoiding reporters below.
\u201cSpeaker McCarthy continues to refuse to answer questions about Nashville shooting or whether there should be any legislative response. Says he\u2019s not answering any questions.\nPosed for photos with tourists, then went into his office\u201d— Manu Raju (@Manu Raju) 1680033524
Newsom shared the video on his Twitter account, with a one-word caption:
"Coward."
You can see Newsom's tweet here:
\u201cCoward.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1680064748
Many joined Newsom in criticizing McCarthy and the GOP in general for their avoidance of the core cause of gun violence.
\u201cREPUBLICANS: "We must protect our children!!!"\n\nREALITY: "The biggest threat to children in America is guns."\n\nREPUBLICANS: "LA LA LA LA I CAN'T HEAR YOU MR. REALITY!!!"\u201d— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers) 1679966301
\u201c@GavinNewsom Repeat after me Dems - Republicans refuse to do the basics to keep kids safer, so the public needs to elect more Dems.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1680064748
\u201c@GavinNewsom Absolutely.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1680064748
\u201c@GavinNewsom Constant coward.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1680064748
\u201c@GavinNewsom @davidhogg111 Indeed. AND far worse.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1680064748
\u201c@GavinNewsom @atlgeeman #MotionToVacateMcCarthy\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1680064748
\u201c@GavinNewsom My thoughts exactly.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1680064748
\u201c@GavinNewsom Yes, but sadly, no surprise.\u201d— Gavin Newsom (@Gavin Newsom) 1680064748
McCarthy did offer condolences to the families of the victims later on.
However, his refusal to answer questions from reporters about a legislative response to gun violence has drawn criticism from many.
McCarthy’s stance on gun control has been consistent with the Republican Party’s general pro-gun stance.
In 2019, after a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, McCarthy told reporters video games are a driver behind mass shootings and Congress should focus on addressing it rather than passing gun control laws.
\u201cUSA: It's a mental health issue.\n\nWORLD: We have those. We don't have mass shootings.\n\nUSA: Then it's a video game issue.\n\nWORLD: We have those. We don't have mass shootings.\n\nUSA: It's very complex.\n\nWORLD: No, it's gun laws.\n\nUSA: Prayer in school?\n\nWORLD: God, you're stupid.\u201d— Mrs. Betty Bowers (@Mrs. Betty Bowers) 1679948582
Newsom—who has been vocal about gun control measures—criticized the lack of legislative response to gun violence in Congress. He has been a strong proponent of measures like background checks and bans on assault weapons, which have faced opposition from Republicans.
Newsom’s criticisms of McCarthy reflect a broader partisan divide on gun control, which has only intensified in recent years. The issue has become a hot-button topic in American politics, with both sides accusing each other of inaction and partisan politics.
In January, Newsom slammed McCarthy for not speaking out after massacres in the California communities of Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, saying Californians had not "heard one damn word" from him.
