Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha will travel to Minneapolis, Minn. on Wednesday to pay their respects to victims of last week’s mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School.
The couple will “hold a series of private meetings to convey condolences to the families of those affected by the tragedy,” Vance’s office announced Tuesday.
Harper Moyski, 10, and Fletcher Merkel, 8, were both killed when the 23-year-old gunman Robin Westman barricaded a door to the church and opened fire through a window before turning the gun on himself.
More than a dozen other children and adults were injured in the shooting, which took place while they prayed at Mass.
Westman’s twisted manifesto included antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric and the phrase “kill Donald Trump” was scrawled on one of the shooter’s gun magazines.
The shooter, who identified as transgender and appeared to be struggling with his gender identity, also confessed he was “tired of being trans” in writings he filmed and posted online prior to the massacre.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Vance has been critical of Democratic attacks against those offering prayers for victims.
“It is shocking to me that so many left-wing politicians attack the idea of prayer in response to a tragedy,” Vance posted on X last week. “Literally no one thinks prayer is a substitute for action.”
“We pray because our hearts are broken and we believe that God is listening.”
Shortly after the shooting, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey argued, “Don’t just say this is about thoughts and prayers right now. These kids were literally praying.”
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