The country is reeling after a horrifying attack inside a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The mass shooting left two children dead and 17 others wounded—most of them students who had only just started the school year.
What should have been a simple morning prayer service at Annunciation Church ended in unimaginable tragedy, shaking families, the community, and the nation.
Jen Psaki Breaks Down on Air
On her MSNBC program, Jen Psaki—best known to many as the former White House Press Secretary—struggled to keep her composure as she addressed the tragedy.
Fighting back tears, she reflected on the everyday worries of children, like finding a lunch table or getting home safely, and contrasted that with the devastating reality of kids being killed during church prayers.
“This is not what parents should ever have to worry about,” Psaki said, pausing before adding, “Sorry, this is a tough one.”
Anger at Political Responses
Psaki didn’t hold back when it came to her frustration with political leaders.
She expressed deep exhaustion, pointing out how predictable the cycle has become—another shooting, followed by “thoughts and prayers,” and then an attempt to shift focus elsewhere.
She specifically called out former President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance for offering little more than condolences, saying, “Half the politicians in our country have little more to offer than thoughts and prayers—that’s all they are offering.”
Distractions and Narratives
Psaki also warned against the way media coverage quickly latches onto distracting narratives.
She predicted—and noted it was already happening—that attention would shift toward the shooter’s transgender identity or political beliefs.
She emphasized that transgender people, those with mental health struggles, and extremists exist around the world.
What makes America different, she argued, is the sheer frequency of shootings and the ease with which firearms can be legally obtained.
“It’s the guns, everyone,” Psaki stated bluntly. “We live in a country with more guns than people, with no universal background checks and no ban on assault weapons. It’s not a secret.”
Details of the Attack
Authorities later confirmed the shooter as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who had transitioned from the name Robert in 2020.
Armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol—all legally purchased—Westman opened fire on the church.
Police said the shooter fired through the windows at children sitting in pews, and may have blocked doors with wooden planks to trap those inside.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara described it as a deliberate act, calling it “sheer cruelty and cowardice” to attack children during a church service.
Victims of the Violence
Two children, just eight and ten years old, lost their lives.
Fourteen other children and three adults were wounded before the shooter ultimately took their own life.
The church, which is connected to a Catholic grade school, had just welcomed students back earlier that week.
The Shooter’s Troubled Past
Court documents reveal that Westman’s mother had supported her transition years earlier, helping file the paperwork to change her name.
Despite this, writings from Westman suggested a struggle with identity and mental health.
At one point, she even referenced wanting to choose an outfit for her “shooting.”
Authorities have not yet confirmed a motive, but the writings raise disturbing questions about planning and intent.
Calls for Compassion, Not Hate
After details about the shooter’s transgender identity surfaced, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey urged the public not to direct hate at the wider trans community.
“Anybody who is using this as an opportunity to villainize our trans community or any other community has lost their sense of humanity,” he said, stressing that the focus should remain on the children who died.
A Crisis Without End
The tragedy once again highlights America’s ongoing struggle with gun violence.
For Psaki, for grieving families, and for communities across the nation, the anger comes not only from the loss of young lives—but from the painful realization that shootings like this have become devastatingly routine.
