White House On If Nashville Christian School Shooting Was A Hate Crime: ‘Not For Us To Decide’

On Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to say if last week’s mass shooting at a Christian school in Tennessee that killed 6 people should be considered a “hate crime.”

Last Monday, a 28-year-old woman, who identified as a transgender man, attacked Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville. She killed six people, including three children, before being shot and killed by police. 

Investigators say that the tragedy was a “targeted attack” and that the shooter was a former student of the private Christian school. Notably, the attack took place just days before a planned “Day of Vengeance” by transgender activists in Washington, D.C., for March 31-April 2 which had been raising money for firearm training for people who identify as trans. 

Jean-Pierre was asked if the tragedy could be a hate crime on Wednesday. 

“Former Vice President Pence said that if the shooter who killed six people in that Christian school in Tennessee was motivated by hatred towards Christians, the crime should be categorized as a hate crime. I’m wondering what the president thinks about that designation?” RealClearPolitics reporter Phil Wegmann asked.

“It’s not for us to decide,” Jean-Pierre responded. 

KARINE JEAN-PIERRE: "It's not for us to decide" if murdering Christians at a Christian school in cold blood — three of whom were children — is a "hate crime." pic.twitter.com/mDrFXysVQl

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 5, 2023