Pence tweets thanks to Waffle House hero

Vice President Pence on Thursday tweeted a message of thanks to the “Waffle House hero” after a shooting in a Nashville-area restaurant.

James Shaw Jr. was hailed as a hero and credited for saving lives after he wrestled a weapon away from the gunman last weekend. Four people were killed in the shooting.

Pence’s tweet came four days after the shooting and as the Trump administration has faced some criticism.

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“Tragic shooting in Tennessee earlier this week,” Pence tweeted late Thursday. “Thanks James Shaw Jr. for your courageous actions to save lives and your continued efforts to help others. You’re an American HERO!”

Tragic shooting in Tennessee earlier this week. Thanks James Shaw Jr. for your courageous actions to save lives and your continued efforts to help others. You’re an American HERO! https://t.co/vyA6B3N1eu

— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) April 26, 2018

Shaw also started a GoFundMe for the families of the victims, which raised more than $171,000. A reporter then started a fundraiser for Shaw himself, raising more than $180,000.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised Shaw’s “heroic actions” during a press briefing on Monday.

President Trump has not tweeted about Shaw or the shooting, prompting some critics to accuse the president of having a double standard when it comes to white shooters.

CNN host Don Lemon on Monday said that Trump had not tweeted about the incident because the shooter was not Muslim. Suspected shooter Travis Reinking is in custody and has been charged with multiple counts of criminal homicide and attempted murder.

“It would be nice if he tweeted about the four people who lost their lives in the Waffle House, the four black people who lost their lives, and the black hero from that, but not unless it’s a Muslim does he tweet about something like that,” Lemon said.