Andrea Hanks/White House
First Lady Melania Trump holds the two-month-old son of Jordan and Andre Anchondo, as she and President Donald Trump pose for photos and meet members of the Anchondo family, August 7, 2019, at the University Medical Center of El Paso in El Paso, Texas.
- The man whose brother and sister-in-law were two of victims of the Walmart shooting in El Paso, Texas, said he received a flood of hate calls after posing for a photo with President Donald Trump, according to a new report.
- In the picture, Trump smiled and gave his signature thumbs-up with his right hand.
- The picture has since circulated widely on social media, drawing allegations that Trump was insensitive during a time of mourning.
- The man claimed he and his family received hate calls and that he was harassed on Facebook.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
The man whose brother and sister-in-law were two of the 22 people killed in the Walmart shooting in El Paso, Texas, on Saturday said he received a flood of hate calls after posing for a photo with President Donald Trump, according to a New York Times report on Friday.
Tito Anchondo was pictured with Trump and first lady Melania, when they visited the University Medical Center of El Paso on Wednesday to meet with victims of the shooting.
In the picture, Melania held Anchondo's two-month-old nephew, the son of Jordan and Andre Anchondo, who were killed in the shooting. Standing next to Melania was Trump, who smiled and gave his signature thumbs-up with his right hand.
Read more: Trump gave a thumbs-up in a photo with a baby orphaned by El Paso mass shooting
The nephew, who allegedly had a broken hand, was released but brought back to the Texas hospital at the request of White House officials, according to reports. The nephew was injured after Jordan fell on his body as she attempted to protect him.
The picture has since circulated widely on social media, drawing allegations that Trump was insensitive during a time of mourning.
"It's just been really hectic," Anchondo said to The Times.
Anchondo added that incident spurred negative reactions. He claimed to The Times that he and his family received hate calls, and that he was harassed on Facebook.
Anchondo previously said he and his brother supported the president: "I want to see [Trump's] reaction," he said to NPR, in reference to the trip. "I want to see if he's genuine and see if my political views are right or wrong. And see if he feels maybe some kind of remorse for statements that he's made. I just want to have a human-to-human talk with him and see how he feels."
At least 22 people were killed after a gunman armed with an assault-style rifle stormed the Walmart. Law enforcement agencies are considering hate-crime charges as the suspect said he intentionally targeted "Mexicans."
Andre and Jordan were at the Walmart to buy school supplies and food for a BBQ party, according to NPR. Andre was 23 years old, and Jordan was 24.