Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who served under Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, drew backlash for a post about this week’s deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school that critics called anti-Christian, leading Vice President JD Vance to sharply rebuke her.
“Prayer is not freaking enough,” Psaki ranted on X, adding: “Prayer 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.”
Vance, in his response to Psaki, wrote, “We pray because our hearts are broken. We pray because we know God listens. We pray because we know that God works in mysterious ways, and can inspire us to further action.” He then added: “Why do you feel the need to attack other people for praying when kids were just killed praying?”
In a follow-up post, Vance said, “Of all the weird left-wing culture wars in the last few years, this is by far the most bizarre. ‘How dare you pray for innocent people in the midst of tragedy?!’ What are you even talking about?”
Psaki’s comments followed Wednesday’s shooting at Annunciation Church and Catholic School in Minneapolis, where 23-year-old Robert Westman, a biological male who identified as female, opened fire during a student Mass in the first week of classes, killing two children.
Two children were killed and 17 others injured in the attack. The suspect, Robert Westman, a.k.a. Robin Westman, took his own life shortly after the shooting. Authorities said he had posted a manifesto online outlining his motives, and his weapons were inscribed with phrases including “Kill Donald Trump” and other anti-Catholic and anti-Christian messages.
The FBI is investigating the case as a domestic terrorist attack targeting Catholics. The shooting has also fueled debate over gun control, mental health, and the role of prayer in the aftermath of such tragedies.
