Screenshot/CNN
Donald Trump was asked Tuesday during a press conference about the gorilla that was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo last weekend after a 3-year-old boy fell into its enclosure.
The gorilla was shot by zoo officials after it dragged the small child through its habitat. Footage of the interaction showed the gorilla, Harambe, looking as if it was protecting the child at first before becoming rattled by the screaming outside the enclosure.
"I think it's a very tough call," Trump said. "It was amazing because there were moments with that gorilla the way he held that child where it looks like a mother holding a baby, looked so beautiful and calm."
"And there were moments where it looked pretty dangerous," he continued. "I don't think they had a choice. I mean, probably, they didn't have a choice. You had a young child where their life was at stake. I mean, you know it's too bad there wasn't another way."
He added that he thought it was "so beautiful" to watch "that powerful" gorilla interact with the child at first.
"But it just takes one second, just one second. It's not like it's, 'Oh, it's going to take place over 30 seconds from now,'" Trump continued. "It just takes one little flick of his finger and I will tell you they probably had no choice."
The killing of Harambe sparked a firestorm, with many lambasting the child's parents for losing track of the child. Animal-rights activists started a Change.org petition to hold the boy's parents accountable, and it garnered more than 335,000 signatures as of noon Tuesday. The parents have not been charged by Cincinnati authorities.
Many reacted with shock on Twitter that Trump was even asked about the gorilla shooting. Hunter Walker of Yahoo News asked the presumptive Republican nominee about the controversy.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/737672664530178048
Who the hell asked Trump about the f'ing gorilla? Now THAT is loser reporting.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/737669156078813184
Trump is currently commenting on death of Harambe, the gorilla killed in Cleveland, because... well... uhhh... Wait, why is this happening?
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/737668569803182081
Donald Trump now yalking about the gorilla. So, ok. The end is here.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/737668550291116033
Wait, someone asked Trump about the shooting of the gorilla at the Cincinnati zoo.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/737668453952262144
Trump weighs in on the Gorilla. wow.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/737668717543198722
Whoever asked about the gorilla should meet the same fate as the gorilla.
