Gingrich, WikiLeaks Get Blowback for Political Tweets About Paris Attack

Josh FeldmanNov 13th, 2015, 7:45 pm

Both Newt Gingrich and WikiLeaks tweeted things out about the Paris terrorist attack tonight that people took some serious issue with.

First, Gingrich. He tweeted a lot about the attack and what it says about the seriousness of the threat facing the world today, but it’s this tweet that’s getting the most attention:

Imagine a theater with 10 or 15 citizens with concealed carry permits. We live in an age when evil men have to be killed by good people

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) November 13, 2015

And that got huge Twitter blowback:

@newtgingrich Hey Newt shut the fuck up, people are dying. Thanks!

— Rob DenBleyker (@RobDenBleyker) November 13, 2015

@newtgingrich STOP IT

— mia farrow (@MiaFarrow) November 13, 2015

Oh do sod off, dear. RT: “@newtgingrich: Imagine a theater with 10 or 15 citizens with concealed carry permits.”

— David Byers (@davidbyers26) November 13, 2015

me: "I wonder what Newt Gingrich said…" *reads tweet* *sets fire to the Internet*

— Cecily Walker (@skeskali) November 14, 2015

300 million American guns didn't stop 9/11, Newt. Don't be so crass. https://t.co/Siy00qFNa5

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 13, 2015

Not now, Newt. https://t.co/yacGrtpDKa

— Kaleb Nation (@KalebNation) November 13, 2015

No you fatuous idiot, Paris is not your neat rhetorical move in an argument about gun control https://t.co/E7vQ9V7OGh

— Hari Kunzru (@harikunzru) November 14, 2015

Meanwhile, WikiLeaks said that the attacks were a consequence of the West funding and arming Sunni extremists:

At least 39 dead in French terror attacks this evening. France has closed borders. US, UK, France fed ISIS. Not so funny now, is it?

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) November 13, 2015

At least 39 dead tonight in Paris terror atacks. 250k dead in Syria & Iraq. Both a direct result of US, UK, France feeding Sunni extremists.

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) November 13, 2015

And they too had their Twitter critics:

@wikileaks This is an appalling comment, now is not the time

— Guy C (@guy_c21) November 13, 2015

@AD822 Those who funded, armed and trained Sunni extremists inorder to destroy the states of Syria & Libya should be brought to justice.

— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) November 14, 2015

If you have ever supported Julian Assange, Wikileaks or Snowden, read this and be ashamed of yourself: https://t.co/fQQP0ZOqiT

— Benny (@bennyjohnson) November 14, 2015

@wikileaks Whoever is running this account should be utterly ashamed of themselves.

— Hamish (@HamishP95) November 13, 2015

Terrible events in Paris. Terrible commentary from people who should know better. On all sides. This from wikileaks https://t.co/mdULyU1lKE

— Peter Jukes (@peterjukes) November 13, 2015

gross https://t.co/hgYAQVhgzg

— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) November 13, 2015

In case there was a scintilla of support from any sane person out there anymore for @wikileaks… https://t.co/eTtM32rYQq

— Sam Gad Jones (@samgadjones) November 13, 2015