Survivors of El Paso shooting declined to meet with President Trump

Some survivors of the Aug. 3 shooting at Walmart and their families did not want to meet with President Donald Trump during his visit to University Medical Center.

Trump visited El Paso four days after a mass shooting left 22 dead and 25 injured.

The president did not meet with any of the eight survivors still convalescing at UMC, the El Paso Times reported Wednesday, Aug. 7.

Three of the eight survivors were unable to meet Trump because they were in too poor condition or because of a Spanish language barrier, Henry Gallardo, UMC’s chair of the hospital board of managers, said.

Five declined the offer.

The president did meet with family members of three survivors in the hospital waiting room for nearly two hours after most objected to seeing him, Gallardo said.

Families said they had been asked on Tuesday if Trump could visit with them and most declined.

“All of the victims were asked if they would be willing to have visitors, just like we do for all the other individuals that come through the hospital that come to visit,” Gallardo told the El Paso Times. “In that particular situation, the protocol was exactly the same.”

“The president and first lady met with victims of the tragedy while at the hospital,” White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said. “I’d also point you to the video the White House posted this evening, which shows the president and first lady being received very warmly by not just victims and their families, but by the many members of medical staff who lined the hallways to meet them. It was a moving visit for all involved.”

The hospital administrators released few details of the president’s activities Wednesday.

University Medical Center of El Paso hosted President Donald J. Trump today during his visit to El Paso to meet with hospital staff, families or victims of the Aug. 3 mass casualty shooting,” it said.

He spent most of his time in a hospital waiting room where the families of survivors sit together, prompting meetings with those family members. His visit to the hospital remained largely unseen by media who were kept away from the president.

The president was accompanied by Jacob Cintron, CEO of UMC; Maria Zampini, the chief operating office; and Henry Gallardo, the board chair for the El Paso County Hospital District Board of Managers.

On Wednesday, the president tweeted out what appeared to be a campaign video shaking hands and taking pictures with hospital staff in El Paso and Dayton, Ohio, where he also visited.

Read more at usatoday.com