Jeffrey Lord, CNN analyst and vocal supporter of President Donald Trump, argued Ariana Grande should be held accountable for the bombing at her concert in Manchester, which left 22 dead and dozens injured.
He made his comment while addressing criticism of Trump calling London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s response to the terrorist attack “pathetic,” according to the Huffington Post.
Lord told Anderson Cooper that Khan was partly to blame for “not taking care of the terrorism.” Cooper then asked Lord, “what if [Trump] had tweeted against Ariana Grande for not providing enough security at her venue? Would that be fair too?”
“Sure,” Lord said. “What you’re trying to illustrate is there is a serious problem here and we have collectively in this world not taken this serious enough and people are getting killed.”
Critics were quick to point out that Grande would never be held responsible for security, which is typically handled by concert venues.
Lord’s comments about Grande caused an outcry from users on Twitter.
“Jeffrey Lord is an ass of the highest order,” one user wrote. “Ariana Grande showed heart, soul, and leadership in her response to Manchester. Trump did not.”
Jeffrey Lord is an ass of the highest order. Ariana Grande showed heart, soul, and leadership in her response to Manchester. Trump did not. https://t.co/fYzJ2jDKku
— Dr. Jon Butler "Leftist Thug Liberal Vermin"🌹 (@Jbutler9Jon) June 6, 2017
Jeffrey Lord lecturing Londoners and their mayor about their response to terrorism is beyond ridiculous. #keepcalmandbuzzoff
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) June 6, 2017
Dear @CNN,
— 3 Days til Train One (@jmalakai_bee) June 6, 2017
Please stop letting Jeffrey Lord gaslight America. Put a stop to his on-air fuckery at once.
Signed,
Everybody
https://twitter.com/gaywonk/status/870375005485445124
Grande wasn’t the only individual Lord was open to pointing fingers at. Cooper later asked if Lord would have been fine with the British prime minister going after the mayor of Orlando in the wake of the Orlando terrorist attack last year.
Lord responded, “Sure.”
Cooper then asked if Lord blames Rudy Giuliani for not providing safety for the people of New York City during 9/11.
“Yes,” Lord said. “The buck stops here, as Harry Truman said.”
Lord later tweeted about his comments related to Giuliani, seemingly taking back his criticism.
“All I said was chief executives of any organization are responsible for what happens on their watch,” he wrote. “He did a great job. But I’m sure he looks back with some regret. He, Bush, Bill Clinton were all criticized for not anticipating Osama.”
All I said was chief executives of any organization are responsible for what happens on their watch. He did a great job. But I'm sure he…
— Jeffrey Lord (@realJeffreyLord) June 6, 2017
…looks back with some regret. He,Bush,Bill Clinton were all criticized for not anticipating Osama.
— Jeffrey Lord (@realJeffreyLord) June 6, 2017
Lord has not, however, responded to criticism about his comments regarding Grande.