Photos taken by Associated Press photographer Carolyn Kaster offer a close-up view of the note in Trump's hand. It contains several questions and other phrases that aides apparently wanted Trump to hit during the event.
Questions ranged from "What would you most want me to know about your experience?" to "What can we do to help you feel safe?" One line item encouraged Trump to ask those attending for their ideas about how to move forward, and another item was blocked by Trump's hand in the photographs.
But Trump was widely panned on social media for the fifth point, which was perceived as a reminder of what some felt should be a natural reaction to victims and their family members from Parkland, Sandy Hook, Columbine and other school shootings.
The President's answer to "how do we stop shootings" is more guns.
— Geraldine (@everywhereist) February 21, 2018
His solution for not getting children killed in school is to arm teachers.
He has crib notes on how to behave human.
I am so disgusted and embarrassed right now.
This appears to be real! :(
— Stanley Jones (@bellevillestan) February 21, 2018
When someone need crib notes on how to show common decency, they are not qualified to be president! #tRump pic.twitter.com/8SUcd5IQ0S
Old enough to remember when a President didn't need crib notes to say "I hear you" while exploiting a tragedy https://t.co/6RbHrszcwO
— Mike Puterbaugh (@cvmikep) February 21, 2018
The President has to have crib notes to remember to say normal human things in front of gun victims. https://t.co/wXKjQQKKXz
— Ben (@Ben_Paul) February 21, 2018
It appears the notes were written on a pad of paper, but it's not clear if there were additional talking points on other pages.
