Trump torments New Yorkers, callously blames their longtime senator for terror attack

New York City was rocked on Monday by its deadliest terrorist attack since 9/11. A man in a truck mowed down cyclists and pedestrians on a bike path near the World Trade Center, killing eight and injuring a dozen more.

Within hours, Donald Trump used the tragedy to announce he had “just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program,” adding, “Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!”

It was a far cry from his response to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history last month, which killed 58 and injured nearly 600. Days after the shooting, when asked what steps his administration might take to prevent another such tragedy, Trump said, “We’re not going to talk about that today. We won’t talk about that.”

On Wednesday morning, Trump resumed his tweeting to push for his anti-immigrant agenda and blame Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, who represents the state that had been attacked only the day before, based on what he was watching on his favorite TV show, “Fox & Friends”:

The terrorist came into our country through what is called the "Diversity Visa Lottery Program," a Chuck Schumer beauty. I want merit based.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

We are fighting hard for Merit Based immigration, no more Democrat Lottery Systems. We must get MUCH tougher (and smarter). @foxandfriends

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

"Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europes problems" said Col.Tony Shaffer. We will stop this craziness! @foxandfriends

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017

There are so many things wrong with Trump’s ugly and unhinged rant. For one thing, the Diversity Visa Lottery Program in fact has strict merit-based job requirements and criminal history checks; that there is not yet any evidence the killer was radicalized prior to immigrating; and that ending this visa program would do nothing to prevent anyone — natural-born or immigrant — from being radicalized by any extremist ideology.

But perhaps the most outrageous aspect is that Trump is pinning the blame on the senator whose own state was just attacked.

The details of what happened are not even fully established, and Trump is proclaiming the Senate minority leader let his own constituents die by not limiting immigration to white English speakers.

Meanwhile, Trump has still done nothing about the white English speaker who shot six hundred people in Las Vegas just weeks ago. His administration continues to insist that immediate action is not necessary.

Undaunted by the attacks, Schumer released a statement reminding Trump that his own proposals would kneecap counterterrorism in a very big way:

I have always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America. President Trump, instead of politicizing and dividing America, which he always seems to do at times of national tragedy, should be focusing on the real solution — anti-terrorism funding — which he proposed cutting in his most recent budget.

I’m calling on the President to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding.

The attacks on Schumer are not unique. Trump blamed the mayor of London for another terrorist attack, and the mayor of San Juan for his own administration’s incompetence in rebuilding Puerto Rico.

Trump’s driving mantra is that everything is always somebody else’s fault. That may keep his own ego safe, but it will not keep America safe.