Donald Trump told a gathering of state governors that he would have run in to the Florida school shooting unarmed, in a further escalation of his attack on the officers who were present at the scene.
ADVERTISEMENTDonald Trump has been busy fuelling controversy over gun control in the US.
In the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida first he suggested that teachers should be armed.
Next he publicly criticised the school's armed school resource deputy, Scot, Peterson, calling him a "coward". Peterson had remained outside the building as the shooting was underway.
"I really believe I'd run in"
Most recently, at a gathering of state governors in Washington, he said described the conduct of officers who attended the scene as "disgusting", saying he would have acted differently:
"the way, they performed was frankly disgusting. They were listening to what was going on. The one in particular he was then he was there early on then you had three others, that probably a similar deal a little bit later but a similar kind of a thing. You know, I really believe, you don't know until you test it. But I think I really believe I'd run in even if I didn't have a weapon."
"I was in shock"
These latest remarks are likely to enrage protesters calling for gun law reform.
In the immediate aftermath of the massacre, students from the Florida school marched on Washington and were given an audience with the President.
Melissa Blank, whose son, Jonathan, survived the shooting, told BuzzFeed that "I honestly believed he was listening and compassionate toward us and did a great job, but as soon as I heard him say we should arm teachers, I was in shock."
For a while it seemed that those in favour of gun control were gaining ground, but in his meeting with state governors, Trump indicated that he was as close as ever to the National Rifle Association, a powerful lobby fervently against any change in the law.
"Don’t worry about the NRA, they’re on our side," he said.
Further marches are planned for March under the banner of "March for our Lives".