President Donald Trump has condemned the two mass shootings in Texas and Ohio, declaring that “hate has no place” in America as he pledged further action to come.
The president offered “condolences to all” as he spoke out for the first time in public about the El Paso and Dayton shootings over the weekend that left 29 people dead, telling reporters before boarding Air Force One in Morristown, New Jersey that “more has to be done” to prevent future tragedies.
(Video: CNN)
“I want to extend our condolences to the people of El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. They’re incredible people and they’ve been through a lot,” the president said with first lady Melania Trump at his side. He also thanked law enforcement for the “incredible” job they’ve done.
“Nobody could have done what they’ve done,” he said. “This could have been — as bad as it was, it could have been so much worse. I just have to thank them. The job they’ve done is incredible. They were right on the ball in El Paso. They were there so quickly. And in Dayton, in less than a minute. Think of the damage he did in such a short period of time. In less than a minute, the law enforcement acted and killed him. And it would have been unbelievable. It was — would have been — it was horrible, but it would have been so much worse.”
The president denounced the shootings, vowing that “we’re going to take care” of the problem as he noted that he had spoken with Attorney General William Barr, Christopher Wray, director of the FBI, as well the governors of both Ohio and Texas.
“Hate has no place in our country. And we’re going to take care of it,” Trump said.
The mass shooting in a Texas shopping center by a 21-year-old with an alleged manifesto is being investigated as a domestic terrorism case, as at least 20 people dead were killed and more than two dozen injured. In Ohio, a 24-year-old gunman opened fire outside a bar killing his own sister and eight others before police fatally shot him.
Trump said he had also spoken with members of Congress about additional action, saying, “a lot of things are being done right now, as we speak,” adding that he will be making a statement on Monday morning.
“We have to get it stopped. This has been going on for years,” Trump said. “So thank you very much, and I will be making a statement tomorrow at about 10:00, and I’ll see you there.”
Before leaving, the president did take one question from a reporter who asked about what kind of actions he is planning to take.
“We’re talking to a lot of people and a lot of things are in the works and a lot of good things. And we’ve done much more than most administrations,” he said. “But this is also a mental illness problem if you look at both of those cases. This is mental illness. These are really people that are very, very seriously mentally ill. So a lot of things are happening.”
Trump had tweeted a message after the shootings as well, noting that he had ordered flags lowered in honor of the victims.
God bless the people of El Paso, Texas. God bless the people of Dayton, Ohio.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019
….The flags at the White House will be lowered today through Thursday, August 8. Melania and I are praying for all those impacted by this unspeakable act of evil!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 4, 2019
The president also called on Republicans and Democrats to work together on solutions, urging lawmakers to make something “great” come out of the tragic events.
We cannot let those killed in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, die in vain. Likewise for those so seriously wounded. We can never forget them, and those many who came before them. Republicans and Democrats must come together and get strong background checks, perhaps marrying….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019
….this legislation with desperately needed immigration reform. We must have something good, if not GREAT, come out of these two tragic events!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 5, 2019
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and other 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, have demanded that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recall the Senate from its recess to address gun violence and draw up legislation.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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