During a recent episode of CNN’s "State of the Union," a tense exchange unfolded between White House Deputy Assistant Sebastian Gorka and anchor Brianna Keilar. The discussion centered on the tragic shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, which had occurred just days earlier.
Keilar challenged Gorka’s focus on the fact that the shooter identified as transgender. She argued that this emphasis missed a larger issue regarding school shootings as a whole. Citing data from the U.S. Secret Service, she pointed out that the vast majority of mass attackers from 2016 to 2020 were not transgender, suggesting that the discussion should broaden beyond the identity of the shooter.
Gorka countered Keilar’s points by asserting that her statistics included various types of gun violence, such as gang-related incidents, which he claimed did not reflect ideological motivations. He insisted that focusing solely on mass shootings at schools would yield a different understanding of the problem. Gorka emphasized that the attack had an ideological component, framing it as a form of terrorism rather than random violence.
As the debate continued, Keilar narrowed her focus to school shootings, noting that only three out of the last 32 shooters had identified as transgender. Gorka remained skeptical of her figures, expressing distrust in CNN’s reporting. He stated, “Please forgive me if I didn’t take your stats for granted,” referencing past claims he believed were inaccurate.
Keilar pressed on, calling the math simple, but Gorka dismissed her assertion, claiming it distorted the facts. He mentioned a troubling trend of mass shootings involving transgender individuals, stating there had been seven such incidents in recent years. Keilar responded by noting that at least one of those cases involved anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
The conversation shifted to the broader issue of school safety. Gorka expressed concern about how often potential threats are recognized by law enforcement and whether warning signs are being overlooked. The discussion highlighted the complexities surrounding gun violence, identity, and the need for effective measures to prevent future tragedies.
