Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki Criticized for Linking Minneapolis School Shooting to D.C. Crime Strategy
MINNEAPOLIS ā A tragic mass shooting at a Catholic school in south Minneapolis has left two children dead and 17 others injured, sparking national outrage, grief, and heated debate after former White House press secretary Jen Psaki appeared to link the massacre to crime-prevention strategies in Washington, D.C.
The shooting unfolded on the morning of August 27, 2025, during a packed weekday mass at Annunciation Catholic School. According to police, the suspect, identified as 32-year-old Robin Westman, opened fire outside the church doors just as children and their families were exiting the service. Victims included an 8-year-old and a 10-year-old who died of their injuries at the scene, as well as 14 children and three elderly parishioners who were wounded. Several remain hospitalized in critical condition.
Authorities are still investigating the motive for the attack. Law enforcement officials say they are reviewing Westmanās digital history, including posts on social media platforms, in an effort to determine whether the shooting was premeditated or ideologically motivated.
National Mourning and Local Grief
In the hours following the attack, Minneapolis residents gathered in spontaneous vigils, lighting candles on the church steps and placing stuffed animals, notes, and flowers at the schoolās gates. Parents and community leaders described the shooting as a devastating blow to a neighborhood long known for its tight-knit families and vibrant religious community.
President Joe Biden issued a proclamation ordering all flags across the United States to be flown at half-staff in memory of the victims, emphasizing the need to āstand united against violence and honor the innocence lost.ā Local leaders echoed the sentiment, pledging additional school safety measures and mental health support for children traumatized by the massacre.
Psakiās Controversial Comment
Amid the nationās mourning, attention unexpectedly shifted when former White House press secretary Jen Psaki posted a message on social media linking the Minneapolis tragedy to recent policy decisions regarding crime in Washington, D.C.
Psaki wrote: āWhen kids are getting shot in their pews at a Catholic school mass and your crime plan is to have National Guard put mulch down around D.C., maybe rethink your strategy.ā
Her remark referenced recent deployments of National Guard troops in the capital city. Under a federally led initiative to enhance safety and livability, units have been assigned to sanitation and beautification tasks ā including trash collection, graffiti removal, landscaping, and clearing homeless encampments. Critics of the program argue it symbolizes a superficial fix for deep-rooted crime issues in the capital, whereas supporters say the visible presence of organized, uniformed personnel has helped maintain cleaner and more secure public spaces.
Backlash Against the Link to D.C.
Psakiās statement drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, with many commentators and local Minneapolis officials labeling the comparison insensitive and misplaced.
Opponents argued that the Minneapolis shooting falls squarely under Minnesotaās state jurisdiction, while the National Guard program is D.C.-specific and unrelated to the circumstances of the Minneapolis tragedy. Some leaders suggested that Psakiās comment risked politicizing a community still in active grief.
Several policy analysts also noted that attributing the shooting to federal decisions affecting Washington, D.C., neglects the distinct challenges facing Minnesota. Public safety experts instead highlighted the need for expanded state-level interventions, such as greater investment in school security, substance abuse treatment, and early mental health services.
Others pushed back more forcefully, claiming Psakiās comment exposed a fundamental misunderstanding between local governance responsibilities and federal initiatives.
Historical Context: Gun Violence in Schools
The Annunciation Catholic School tragedy joins a devastating timeline of school shootings that have scarred American history. From Columbine in 1999, to Sandy Hook in 2012, to Uvalde in 2022, mass shootings in educational settings have repeatedly ignited national conversations about gun policy, community safety, and the role of law enforcement in schools.
In Minnesota, the incident recalls echoes of the 2005 Red Lake High School shooting, where a 16-year-old student killed seven people before taking his own life. That tragedy remains among the deadliest school shootings in the stateās history. This weekās violence represents the most lethal school attack in Minnesota in twenty years.
Minneapolis and the Regional Dimension of Crime
Minneapolis has faced heightened scrutiny over crime rates since the 2020 unrest following the death of George Floyd. The city has struggled to balance calls for police reform with sharp increases in violent crime. According to recent city statistics, homicides and aggravated assaults have remained above pre-2020 levels, straining community trust and municipal resources.
Comparisons with regional cities highlight diverging trends. St. Paul, the neighboring capital, has reported modest declines in violent crime after implementing localized intervention programs. Chicago, by contrast, continues to battle persistently high rates of gun violence, though its 2025 mid-year figures show some decreases in shootings compared to recent years.
Public safety experts say Minneapolis remains at a crossroads. With school security and community policing in focus, the city faces pressure to develop sustainable strategies that reduce violence without destabilizing public trust in law enforcement.
The Suspect and Investigative Focus
The suspect, Robin Westman, was arrested at the scene after reportedly dropping the weapon and surrendering to police without further conflict. Early reports indicate Westman had a history of mental health struggles and sporadic employment.
Authorities confirmed they are examining online posts allegedly tied to the suspect, some of which contained erratic commentary about religion and government. While Minneapolis officials have cautioned against premature conclusions, investigators have not ruled out the possibility of ideological or personal motivations.
Some public figures and analysts have also mentioned Westmanās reported transgender identity in broader debates over societal and cultural issues. However, law enforcement has stressed that personal identity alone offers no insight into motive, emphasizing the need for evidence-driven conclusions as the investigation continues.
Economic and Social Impact
Beyond the immeasurable loss of life, the shooting is expected to have lasting social and economic consequences for Minneapolis. The immediate costs include emergency medical care, security upgrades for schools, and crisis response services for traumatized families. Businesses near the Annunciation campus have reported a sharp decline in foot traffic in the days following the incident, with nearby cafes and shops temporarily closing out of respect and safety concerns.
Economists note that mass violence events often have ripple effects on community development. Neighborhoods affected may see falling property values, increased insurance costs, and slower investment interest. Such outcomes mirror the aftermath of other urban shootings across the Midwest, where safety concerns have directly influenced migration patterns and housing markets.
Education advocates are already calling for Minnesota legislators to expedite funding for security infrastructure in schools, including reinforced classroom doors, video surveillance, and armed resource officers ā measures that critics argue risk militarizing campuses but supporters say are necessary protections in the current climate.
Public Response and Next Steps
Across Minnesota, residents have rallied in solidarity with victimsā families. Vigils have been held in Catholic parishes throughout the Twin Cities metro area, where clergy leaders emphasized community healing over political divides. Parents are demanding clearer answers about how the suspect was able to access firearms and warning signs that may have been overlooked.
Governor Tim Walz announced a statewide review of school safety protocols and pledged to work closely with law enforcement and educators to identify improvements. Federal officials have signaled support in coordinating resources, though D.C.-based policy debates are unlikely to directly change Minnesotaās immediate security environment.
A Nation Searching for Balance
The Minneapolis school shooting ā and the controversy sparked by Psakiās remark ā underscores a larger national struggle: balancing urgent grief with persistent disagreements about accountability and solutions. While the investigation into motive continues, the tragedy has already reignited debates over local versus federal responsibilities, the effectiveness of crime reduction strategies, and the ongoing reality of gun violence in schools.
In the days ahead, the families of Annunciation Catholic School will face painful funerals and long recoveries. Meanwhile, city leaders, state officials, and national voices remain pressed to confront a recurring question with no easy answer: how to prevent the next tragedy while a community still reels from this one.