Meghan McCain Gives Donald Trump A Reality Check

While many of us responded to the news at least 50 people had been killed in a mass shooting at a Florida nightclub with expressions of shock and grief or discussions of gun control and the prevalence of hate crimes, one man seemed to think it the perfect time for a humble brag. Presumptive Republican nominee and reality TV star Donald Trump congratulated himself on Twitter and Facebook "for being right on radical Islamic terrorism" shortly after local authorities in Orlando reported the gunman had claimed loyalty to the Islamic State just before the shooting. But while Trump was patting himself on the back, Meghan McCain was having none of it.

Although Trump had taken to Twitter to acknowledge the "really bad shooting in Orlando" almost immediately after news of the incident broke he returned to social media a few hours later with another tweet. "Horrific incident in FL. Praying for all the victims & their families. When will this stop? When will we get tough, smart & vigilant?" the Republican asked. But Trump wasn't done tweeting. Not more than an hour later he was back on Twitter to echo a similar message of vigilance in a tweet that seemed a much more insensitive response to the tragedy unfolding in Orlando. "Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism," Trump wrote. "I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!"

Not everyone felt Trump should be so quick to congratulate himself, however. McCain, a Fox News contributor and vocal gay rights advocate — who's name you likely recognize thanks to her father Sen. John McCain — seemed in disbelief at Trump's attempt to turn the tragedy in Orlando into an I-told-you-so moment. "You're congratulating yourself because 50 people are dead this morning in a horrific tragedy?" she asked Trump over Twitter.

While Trump made no effort to expand on what sort of "toughness and vigilance" he'd employ to stop mass shootings like the one that occurred early Sunday in Orlando, his earlier policy proposals paint us a fairly clear picture. Trump has called for instituting a ban on Muslim immigrants and refugees and "surveillance of certain mosques" last year.

McCain wasn't alone in her disbelief and disgust. Trump's self-congratulatory tweet was met with a wave of criticism and outrage by Twitter users, some of whom took a page from presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by telling Trump to "delete your account." The advice will likely fall on deaf ears, however, as many Trump supporters ratcheted up their anti-Muslim rhetoric and praised their candidate for his foresight.