Eric Swalwell Criticized for Sharing 4-Year-Old’s Reaction to Buffalo

Representative Eric Swalwell has been criticized for tweeting about his 4-year-old child’s apparent reaction to the deadly mass shooting at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo, New York.

Swalwell, a Democrat who represents California’s 15th congressional district, took to Twitter on Monday and wrote that his son had asked him about the shooting that left 10 people dead.

“My 4-year-old just FaceTimed to ask what I’m doing to ‘help the people in Buffalo’ and ‘why did the bad man do this?’ Absolutely gutting,” the Democrat tweeted.

“This cannot be his normal. It’s time to BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS. #EndGunViolence,” he added.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) listens as Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) speaks during a news conference on the introduction of their Protection from Abusive Passengers Act at the U.S. Capitol Building on April 06, 2022 in Washington, DC. Swalwell has been criticized for tweeting about his 4-year-old’s reaction to a mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Other social media users criticized Swalwell for the tweet and some wrote parodies of his post.

The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire tweeted: “My 4-year-old just FaceTimed to ask ‘why did US politicians vote to give Ukraine 40 billion dollars while we face record inflation and baby formula shortages?” Absolutely gutting. This cannot be normal. It’s time to JAIL TREASONOUS POLITICIANS LIKE @RepSwalwell.”

Conservative commentator Allie Beth Stuckey responded mockingly to Swalwell’s tweet.

“My newborn, upon exiting the womb, looked up at me with her barely-open eyes and asked why politicians feel the need to create fictional stories about their offspring to make bad points,” Stuckey said.

Seth Weathers of Bring Ammo Apparel, a conservative lifestyle brand, wrote: “My 5-year old just FaceTimed to ask, ‘why would the bad man let his 4-year old watch news about a mass murder incident?’ Absolutely gutted.”

“On a serious note, I have a 5 year old and I would never let him hear about something like this. Bad parenting, @ericswalwell,” Weathers added.

Swalwell responded to Weathers, tweeting: “My 4-year-old walks into a room with the news on, asks about a mass shooting and it’s the parents’ fault he heard about it? Folks, we have a gun problem in America. #EndGunViolence.”

Actor Matthew Marsden wrote: “My 4 year old FaceTimed me today and asked me if I would go play in the pool with him when I got home. I said I would, and didn’t mention ANYTHING about world events. Cause he is 4 and an innocent child.”

Marsden said “This didn’t happen either” but noted that he had a 4-year-old child.

Swalwell responded to one Twitter user who claimed he had made up the incident. The Democrat shared a screenshot—apparently from a Facebook message about his son watching the news—and wrote: “Yeah cause I have time to make up sh*t my 4 year old says.”

The congressman shared the same screenshot in another tweet where he wrote: “I love the ‘no 4-year-old would ask this’ takes. You’re in absolute denial if you think our kids aren’t watching the horrors we are allowing.”

Police have identified 18-year-old Payton Gendron as a suspect in the Buffalo shooting. Gendron, who has been arrested, allegedly shared a manifesto online and police believe the attack was racially motivated.

The Erie County District Attorney’s Office has said that Gendron was allegedly wearing tactical gear and used an assault-style weapon to shoot several people inside and outside the Tops supermarket. The shooting was livestreamed on gaming platform Twitch.

Newsweek has contacted Representative Swalwell’s office for comment.