Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was among those murdered in Parkland, Florida in February, blasted President Donald Trump for instructing U.S. troops to treat rocks thrown by migrants inside Mexico as if they were bullets being fired from rifles.
The president on Thursday said that members of the caravan have been "viciously and violently" throwing rocks at Mexican soldiers and that the American troops Trump plans on stationing along the border will not tolerate rock-throwing.
Trump described the band of asylum-seeking refugees marauding northward through Mexico as an "invasion" of "tough people" that "will not be allowed into the United States."
"They wanna throw rocks at our military? Our military fights back," Trump told reporters. "I told them to consider it a rifle. When they throw rocks like they did at the Mexican military and police, I say consider it a rifle."
Watch the president's remarks below:
Donald Trump has told the US military to treat rocks being thrown by migrants at the border as though they were rif… https://t.co/C4qkLQhkTK— Sky News (@Sky News) 1541159100.0
This didn't sit well with Guttenberg.
"Trump, the AR 15 that killed my daughter is a firearm. A rock is not," Guttenberg tweeted on Thursday. "You are a seriously delusional and dangerous person who puts America at risk."
Trump, the AR 15 that killed my daughter is a firearm. A rock is not. You are a seriously delusional and dangerou… https://t.co/1dq8S0gikP— Fred Guttenberg (@Fred Guttenberg) 1541105857.0
On Friday, Guttenberg tweeted at Trump again, this time posting a picture of himself with Jaime along with an emotional message to anyone who doesn't understand the difference between stones and guns.
"For those Trump thinks are stupid, I will explain the difference between a rock and rifle," Guttenberg wrote. "If Jaime were hit in the face with a rock, she would be bruised and I would help her heal. Because she was shot with a rifle, she was killed and I visit her at a cemetery. Any questions?"
For those Trump thinks are stupid, I will explain the difference between a rock and rifle. If Jaime were hit in th… https://t.co/yQHojUhdME— Fred Guttenberg (@Fred Guttenberg) 1541161130.0
Followers of Guttenberg on Twitter rushed to express their sympathies for his family as they continue to mourn the loss of Jaime, one of the 17 students and teachers murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
@fred_guttenberg Oh @fred_guttenberg my heart just hurts so hard for you! I’m doing what I can to #GOTV #NewDay… https://t.co/wmuEEd0JZz— suzy greenberg (@suzy greenberg) 1541161406.0
@fred_guttenberg @joqween As a #Florida resident and a parent of a teenage daughter & high school student I hear &… https://t.co/jq03DTFmP7— ScopingItOut (@ScopingItOut) 1541162085.0
@fred_guttenberg God bless you. I don't know how you do it.— Nino Mitch (@Nino Mitch) 1541161309.0
@fred_guttenberg Your strength and courage is a light on this dark path we are traveling.— Lorrie Mitchell (@Lorrie Mitchell) 1541161784.0
@fred_guttenberg Fred, I voted at home yesterday wearing an orange sweater and jeans. Orange for Jamie and jeans f… https://t.co/V9QclLQNCX— yazkat (@yazkat) 1541162622.0
@fred_guttenberg It is truly tragic that your glowing girl had to lose her life to become a teaching aid for idiots… https://t.co/IkJUCllyf3— ♉️🌞Kate Forster♓️🌝 (@♉️🌞Kate Forster♓️🌝) 1541162166.0
Guttenberg even fought back after a troll suggested he supported violence against the police.
@wfarfus @Montel_Williams Please!!! If a rock was used my daughter and 16 others would be alive today. That is su… https://t.co/LAEgDJyLoL— Fred Guttenberg (@Fred Guttenberg) 1541167762.0
Guttenberg has become a prominent opposing voice of the president and widely appreciated.
@fred_guttenberg Thank you for being so vocal in this fight. Your words mean a lot. Hoping you find peace.— Angry Rose #GlovesOff (@Angry Rose #GlovesOff) 1541161773.0
@fred_guttenberg Thank you, Fred. Thank you, Jaime.— H W (@H W) 1541161283.0
@fred_guttenberg If Trump's feral base believes that rocks resemble firearms, they should be okay-fine w/ surrender… https://t.co/acZnjJefBj— C. Jeffrey Smith (@C. Jeffrey Smith) 1541165098.0
Trump wasn't spared additional pushback on social media because rocks are not rifles.
@SkyNews @realDonaldTrump and @HouseGOP are now at Stage 7. https://t.co/9MPhrXGlAu— Skip Hogan 🏴 🌹 (@Skip Hogan 🏴 🌹) 1541161214.0
Instead of militarizing the border, many Americans think humanitarian aid should be the priority.
Don't give in to fear and hatred, it burns everyone it touches.— Wesley Clark (@Wesley Clark) 1540394089.0
@fred_guttenberg @Infantry0300 Could we flood the border with 50 thousand American citizens to welcome them with fo… https://t.co/abdtxI5QZs— ChuckMapesImpeachnow (@ChuckMapesImpeachnow) 1541113928.0
The US should send humanitarian aid to the caravan. Not 15,000 soldiers.— ian bremmer (@ian bremmer) 1541109335.0
@ianbremmer Yes! We have become an elitist country. Obviously forgot our own roots... we should be helping people not threatening them.— La'Velle Reynolds (@La'Velle Reynolds) 1541112530.0
@ianbremmer A Civil Affairs battalion would make sense as aiding refugees is one of their mission sets.— Gen-X Cynic (@Gen-X Cynic) 1541129439.0
The migrant caravan is still several weeks away from the United States and the number of people within it has steadily decreased since the march began last month. The crowd is made up mainly of women and children seeking asylum in the United States.