Dear Commons Community,

President Trump and first lady Melania posed for a photo this week with one of the youngest victims affected by the El Paso mass shooting — a  2-month-old whose parents were killed shielding the child from gunfire.

While visiting the University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC), the president grins and gives a thumbs-up during a photo op with his wife, who was holding baby Paul, the orphaned son of Jordan and Andre Anchondo.

The infant suffered two broken fingers and was grazed by a bullet during the Saturday shooting at a local Walmart shopping center, which left 22 people dead, including his parents.

“I met many incredible people in Dayton, Ohio & El Paso, Texas yesterday,” Trump  wrote alongside the photo on Twitter. “Their communities are strong and unbreakable.”

In the photo, the president is flanked by the infant’s uncle, Tito Anchondo, who told PNR he, as well as the child’s deceased father, were both big Trump supporters.

“My brother was very supportive of Trump,” Anchondo told the outlet. “I think people are misconstruing President Trump’s ideas.”

Still, Melania’s image was met with backlash on Twitter, with some users criticizing the first couple’s expressions during the somber meeting.

“Why is he giving a ‘thumbs up’ in a photo with a baby whose parents were just murdered,” one user questioned.

“Why does he stand with his thumbs up?” asked another. “It’s not a family bbq or a frat party.”

Tony

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