Psaki Criticizes ‘Thoughts and Prayers’ After School Shooting
On Wednesday, former White House press secretary Jen Psaki expressed her frustration towards expressions of faith in light of a tragic school shooting. A gunman attacked a church service, killing two young children, aged 8 and 10, and injuring 17 others by shooting through a window.
Following the incident, Psaki took to X, declaring that “prayer” was insufficient to address or prevent such violence. She stated, “Prayers don’t go crazy enough, prayers don’t end school shootings. [P]rayers don’t make parents feel they can send their children to school. Prayer will not bring these children back. Thinking and prayer are enough.”
Prayers don’t go crazy enough. Prayer won’t end school shootings. Prayers should not make parents feel safe sending their children to school. Prayer will not bring these children back. Thoughts and prayers are enough.
– Jen Psaki (@jrpsaki) August 27, 2025
In response to the tragedy, several Democratic leaders asserted that merely thinking and praying was inadequate in preventing such events. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey pointed out that the victims, who were practicing Christians, had already engaged in prayer during the incident and urged others to refrain from further prayers for them. “I shouldn’t say this is about thoughts and prayers now. These kids were literally praying,” Frey remarked at a press conference.
Additionally, Democrat Senator Amy Klobuchar echoed Frey’s sentiment, agreeing that “thinking and prayer are not sufficient.”
Authorities later identified the suspect as 23-year-old Robin Westman, who succumbed to self-inflicted injuries behind the church following the shooting. Westman used multiple firearms during the attack, though no clear motive has been established.
According to Police Chief Brian O’Hara, at least seven of the injured were in critical condition, and among the fourteen injured were several children.
