An emotional U.S. President Barack Obama wiped tears from his cheek on Tuesday as he outlined his plan to tighten gun control in a speech before families of those affected by gun violence.
Towards the end of his speech, Obama wiped away tears as he recalled the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in Newtown, Connecticut that killed 20 children and six staff members.
He paid tribute to the parents, some of whom gathered for the ceremony, who he said had never imagined their child’s life would be cut short by a bullet.
“Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad,” Obama said as he wiped a tear from his face.
WATCH: President Obama gets emotional during gun control speech, talks executive action. Jackson Proskow reports.
During his speech, several social media users took to Twitter to express compassion with Obama’s emotion and “bold” statements.
If Obama tears up, I’m going to tear up. Our president is legit!” Craig Chavez tweeted.
“As a kid I believed that real men didn’t cry. My sons now grow up in a world where Trudeau & Obama both allow their tears to flow. GOOD,” Stuart Henderson said.
Others, however, weren’t exactly moved by the president’s tears.
“So #Obama cries during his press conference about his new actions on gun control but not 1 tear during #SandyHook or #SanBernardino ? fake!,” Tim Buskeness said.
Another Twitter user called Obama “Pathetic, weak and dishonest.”
WATCH: New gun control measures have emotions running high. Craig Boswell reports.
“Obama cries over gun control. I wish he would get passionate about Islamic terrorism,” Daryl Miller said.
Here’s a look at some of the reaction.
–with a file from The Associated Press
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