The recent stream of mass shootings and terrorist attacks, and the ways that President Donald Trump has responded to them, have created controversy.

One of the duties of the President of the United States is to comfort the American public in times of crisis and despair.

As the most powerful figure in the United States, President Trump has had to comfort the Americans who have lost loved ones in mass shootings and terrorist attacks.

While some believe that he has continually arisen to this challenge, others have been disappointed by his responses.

“I’ve been disappointed with our President’s response in that it seems rather binary and simplistic. He believes the crisis stemming from mass shootings is an issue solely related to mental health concerns and tethered to the nature of evil,” said English teacher and Young Democrats sponsor Brett Rubin.

On Oct. 1, at least 59 people died and more than 500 people were injured in a mass shooting in Las Vegas. The shooter, Stephan Paddock, ultimately committed suicide.

In response, Trump said, “what happened is, in many ways, a miracle.”

On Nov. 5, 26 people were killed and 20 people were injured in the mass shooting that occurred in a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

Trump again responded to the incident by calling it a mental health issue, not a gun control issue.

“Mental health is your problem here. This isn’t a gun’s situation. This is a mental health problem at the highest level. It’s a very, very sad event but that’s the way I view it,” said Trump.

This response in particular caused an uproar due to what some perceived to be contradictory points. President Trump signed a bill that revoked a regulation created by former president Barack Obama, which required people to undergo national background checks before purchasing a firearm.

“It is a kind of madness to continue without considering common sense gun reform policies. The vast majority of Americans are in favor of common sense gun reform. The rate at which these shootings occur speaks to a national sickness at the level of a collective national consciousness. Something is very wrong with our culture and our values that is manifesting itself in these horrific and tragic acts,” argued Rubin.

Trump’s response to the radical Islamic terrorist attack in lower Manhattan provoked anger among some Americans, who accused him of holding Muslims and white Americans to a double standard.

On Oct. 31, a 29 year-old immigrant from Uzbekistan, Sayfullo Saipov, ran a rental truck into the Hudson River Park bike path. Saipov killed eight people. Witnesses say that Saipov yelled “Allahu Akbar” multiple times.

Trump responded by tweeting that he wanted Saipov to be given the death sentence.

“It’s foolish of him to make such statements before any trial or proceeding because politicians usually don’t express their opinions on the outcomes of criminal cases,” said sophomore debater Roland Kim.

Others argue that Trump has responded appropriately to all the events, while being poorly represented by the media.

“I think that Trump’s responses to the recent shootings have been good even though they have been portrayed in the media as being very bad. All he ever tries to do is whatever is best for Americans, no matter their color of skin,” said senior Emily Curylo.