Newt Gingrich on Twitter: Japanese Displayed 'Professional Brilliance' at Pearl Harbor

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich sparked a range of reactions on Twitter Wednesday after marking the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor with two posts that congratulated Japan for the attack that killed more than 2,400 Americans.

Here are Gingrich's tweets: 

75 years ago the Japanese displayed professional brilliance and technological power launching surprises from Hawaii to the Philippines

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 7, 2016

Japanese planning and trainng let them also carry out surprise attacks in Hong Kong and Malaysia.It was widest surprise attack in history

— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 7, 2016

The tweets spurred a range of reactions, including anger:

@newtgingrich This is a shameful think to post on Pearl Harbor day. 2,400 Americans lost their lives.

— Matt Phillips (@MatthewPhillips) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich Yeah! I'm sure my grandfather really appreciated that professional brilliance as thousands fought and died around him at PH.

— Mike Emerick (@mikeemerick) December 7, 2016

My great-uncle died defending USA. I guess he was no match for Japan's "professional brilliance".@newtgingrich #PearlHarbor75thAnniversary

— Jake Turx (@JakeTurx) December 7, 2016

@Brian51207316 @newtgingrich IKR? I wonder if Newt will compliment Al Qaeda for bringing down the twin towers next Sept 11th.

— Eliza Sandeford (@MusingsbyEliza) December 7, 2016

Some called for an apology from the former Georgia congressman:

.@newtgingrich 2,403 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded. Apologize for this statement immediately.

— David Slack (@slack2thefuture) December 7, 2016

Others, still, were befuddled:

@FANofBJK man. How tone deaf and idiotic can one man be, haha

— AWEST BRO DUDE (@ayyy_west) December 8, 2016

.@newtgingrich pic.twitter.com/AUCE9Bx6Ml

— Dan Carson (@TheDoctorCarson) December 7, 2016

@NetSematary @newtgingrich Can't wait for his 9/11 tweet next year. "16 years ago, George Bush taught us about jet fuel's flammability..."

— Guy Fieri w hot dog (@TheBusyGuy) December 7, 2016

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