WASHINGTON — President Trump condemned the mass shooting in Las Vegas
in remarks from the White House Monday morning, calling it “an act of
pure evil.” He offered words of praise for the courage and quick actions
of first responders and sought to provide words of comfort for grieving
families.
At
least 58 were killed and hundreds injured in the shooting at a country
music concert outside the Mandalay Bay casino and resort on the Last
Vegas Strip late Sunday night, making it the worst mass shooting in the
United States in modern history. Trump said he had directed that flags
be flown at half-staff in the memory of the dead and that he would
travel to Las Vegas Wednesday to meet with law enforcement and victims
of the attack and their families.
President Trump makes a statement about the mass shooting in Las Vegas at the White House on Oct. 2. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP)
“I
want to thank the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and all of
the first responders for their courageous efforts and for helping to
save the lives of so many,” the president said. “The speed with which
they acted is miraculous and prevented further loss of life. To have
found the shooter so quickly after the first shots were fired is
something for which we will always be thankful and grateful.”
“We are joined together today in sadness, shock and grief,” Trump said.
He
offered words of comfort for family and friends of the victims, saying
that he and first lady Melania Trump were praying for them.
“Hundreds
of our fellow citizens are now mourning the sudden loss of a loved one,
a parent, a child, a brother or sister,” Trump said. “We cannot fathom
their pain; we cannot imagine their loss. To the families of the
victims, we are praying for you, and we are here for you and we ask God
to help see you through this very dark period.”
“To
the wounded who are now recovering in hospitals,” he continued, “we are
praying for your full and speedy recovery. We pledge to you our support
from this day forward.”
The president, speaking in measured tones, called for national unity and spoke of the bonds between citizens.“In
moments of tragedy and horror America comes together as one — and it
always has,” he said. “We call upon the bonds that unite us, our faith,
our family and shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the
ties of community and the comfort of our common humanity.“Our
unity cannot be shattered by evil. Our bonds cannot be broken by
violence. And though we feel such great anger at the senseless murder of
our fellow citizens it is our love that defines us today—and always
will, forever.” Follow here for live updates on the Las Vegas shooting.
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