Tulsi Gabbard Accuses Jen Psaki of Dismissing Power of Prayer After Minneapolis School Shooting

A Nation in Mourning After Tragedy in Minneapolis

The United States again finds itself grappling with the shock and grief of another school shooting. On August 27, a gunman opened fire during a back-to-school Mass at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. The attack left two children dead and at least 18 others wounded, casting a shadow over the start of the school year for the tight-knit parish community. Authorities identified the suspect as 32-year-old Robin Westman, who died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The incident has reignited the intense national debate over gun violence, mental health, and the role of faith in the healing process after such tragedies. Public figures from across the political and cultural spectrum have stepped forward to comment. Among the most vocal has been Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, who directed strong criticism at former White House press secretary Jen Psaki over remarks Psaki made about the limited role of prayer in preventing school shootings.

Psaki’s Remarks Sparking Debate

In the aftermath of the Minneapolis school shooting, Jen Psaki addressed the tragedy by acknowledging the grief and pain felt by families while stating that expressions of prayer alone were insufficient to prevent further violence. In an impassioned comment, she said that “prayer is not freaking enough,” emphasizing that while reflection and spiritual solidarity may bring comfort, they cannot substitute for concrete action and policy measures. Psaki highlighted that families continue to live with fear each time they send their children into classrooms, and she underscored the need for efforts that would directly address the conditions allowing mass shootings to persist in the United States.

Her words were met with both support and backlash. Supporters viewed the statement as an honest reflection of frustration over repeated cycles of violence, where public mourning and calls for prayer recur without systemic change. Critics, however, interpreted the remarks as a dismissal or belittling of deeply held religious traditions that many families rely on for solace in moments of tragedy.

Gabbard’s Counterstatement on the Power of Faith

Tulsi Gabbard responded with sharp language, defending prayer as an essential source of strength and reminding the public of the central role of faith in communities facing devastation. In her statement, she proclaimed, “God is love. The very essence of God is love. Therefore, during times of hardship, sadness, pain and suffering, we naturally and spontaneously take refuge in Him – in love itself – because we know in the core of our hearts that it is only the power and light of God's love that can drive away the darkness of evil and hatred.”

She went further, claiming that Psaki’s attitude reflected what she described as a “hatred of God” and even referred to Psaki as “an agent of darkness and hatred.” Gabbard’s comments underscored the emotional and spiritual dimensions of the national conversation following school shootings, suggesting that any attempt to minimize or dismiss prayer is, for many, indistinguishable from a rejection of faith itself.

Historical Context: Prayer and Public Tragedies in America

The use of prayer as a collective response to national trauma has a long history in the United States. From presidential calls for prayer following wars and natural disasters to the widespread use of vigils after mass shootings, faith has often played a central role in how communities process loss. Following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, churches across the Midwest filled with grieving families. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, Americans turned en masse to prayer services and interfaith gatherings as a way to seek understanding and emotional refuge.

Yet, beginning in the early 2000s, especially after mass shootings at Columbine High School, Virginia Tech, Sandy Hook Elementary, and more recently Uvalde, the expression “thoughts and prayers” began to receive criticism. Many advocates for reform argued that prayer was becoming a token expression rather than a catalyst for action. This tension between spiritual consolation and political responsibility has been one of the defining cultural flashpoints of modern American mass shooting discourse.

Economic and Social Impact of School Shootings

Beyond their profound human toll, school shootings inflict lasting economic and psychological costs on affected regions. Minneapolis is now facing significant challenges as families, community members, and school administrators balance grief with the costly realities of recovery. Victim support, counseling programs, enhanced security measures, and medical care for survivors all require funding and coordination.

Nationally, researchers have noted that school shootings contribute to an atmosphere of fear that reshapes educational environments across the country. Districts make multimillion-dollar investments in security upgrades, surveillance systems, and armed school resource officers. The economic burden falls both on taxpayers and local institutions, creating ripple effects that extend beyond the immediate tragedy.

Insurance companies report rising claims associated with violence-related trauma, while families of victims face both emotional devastation and financial hardship from long-term medical needs and funeral expenses. In this context, debates over the adequacy of prayer carry a dual weight — not only as a question of personal faith but also as a reflection of the struggle between grieving and addressing systemic causes and consequences of violence.

Comparisons Across Regions

When comparing responses to school shootings across regions, striking differences emerge. In predominantly Catholic or strongly religious communities, prayer vigils become central to communal recovery. Events are held in churches, gymnasiums, or public parks, providing both spiritual grounding and collective solidarity. By contrast, in more secular urban centers, public rallies and calls for legislative action often dominate the narrative, framing prayer more as a companion to activism than a primary response.

Internationally, the United States also stands apart. Other nations that have endured school shootings — such as the 1996 Dunblane massacre in Scotland or the 2002 Erfurt school shooting in Germany — saw public grief expressed through both mourning and swift legislative change. Prayer was present but not contested in the same way it is in America, where secular and faith-based perspectives often collide in public debate. This underscores the uniquely polarized cultural environment in which Gabbard and Psaki made their statements.

Community Response in Minneapolis

In Minneapolis, local residents have held prayer services, laid flowers outside Annunciation Catholic Church, and organized support groups for survivors. Teachers and clergy have called for compassion, unity, and the creation of safe spaces for children traumatized by the attack. Parents who lost their children expressed both devastation and gratitude for the outpouring of community support.

At the same time, some residents have echoed Psaki’s sentiment, voicing exasperation that years of shootings have led to cycles of grief without meaningful solutions. The tension between these perspectives is visible in candlelight vigils where community prayers are joined by chants for action, including gun control measures, mental health funding, and greater oversight of firearms access.

A Nation’s Ongoing Struggle

The aftermath of the Minneapolis school shooting and the exchange between Gabbard and Psaki reflect the broader American struggle to navigate the intersection of faith, grief, and public safety. While for many prayer remains an indispensable source of hope and resilience, others argue it cannot be the endpoint of the conversation.

The clash between the sacred and the practical — between those who find strength in spiritual response and those demanding concrete measures — continues to shape the national discourse. What is clear is that the mourning process following events like the tragedy in Minneapolis extends far beyond the local community, resonating across the nation as families, policymakers, and citizens grapple with how to honor victims and prevent future violence.

In the words of one Minneapolis resident attending a vigil outside Annunciation Catholic Church, “We need both — prayer for healing and action for change. It shouldn’t have to be one or the other.”

As the investigation into the shooter’s motives continues and families bury their children, the United States once again confronts one of its deepest wounds — the enduring question of whether prayer alone is enough to confront what many have come to see as a uniquely American crisis.