President Trump addresses 'a nation in grief' on Florida shooting, tells US children they are 'never alone'
President Trump addressed the American public on Thursday following the deadly high school shooting in Parkland, Fla., speaking of unifying bonds and emphasizing mental health in his remarks.
"My fellow Americans, today I speak to a nation in grief," Trump said. "Yesterday, a school filled with innocent children and carrying teachers became the scene of terrible violence, hatred and evil."
Suspected 19-year-old gunman Nikolas Cruz killed at least 17 people when he brought an AR-15 semiautomatic rifle to Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday and opened fire. The tragedy marks the 18th school shooting in 2018 and 25th fatal school shooting since Columbine in 1999.
"To every parent, teacher and child who is hurting so badly: We are here for you whatever you need, whatever we can do to ease your pain. We are all joined together as one American family, and your suffering is our burden also," Trump said. "No child, no teacher should ever be in danger in an American school. No parent should ever have to fear for their sons and daughters when they kiss them goodbye."
RELATED: Victims of the Florida high school shooting
Trump also addressed American children directly, saying, "You are never alone."
Trump noted he has spoken with Florida Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi, and said he plans to visit the Parkland, Fla., community.
The remarks from the U.S. commander in chief come after he tweeted about the Parkland, Fla., shooting on Thursday morning, saying there were many signs that Cruz was "mentally disturbed." He also issued a proclamation in the wake of the massacre that states, "Our nation grieves with those who have lost loved ones."
So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2018
"We are committed to working with state and local leaders to help secure our schools and tackle the difficult issue of mental health," Trump said during his remarks, again emphasizing mental health issues. "Later this month I will be meeting with the nation's governors and attorney generals where making our schools and our children safer will be our top priority."
Trump has long been a vocal supporter of the National Rifle Association, and the organization spent more than $36 million in the 2016 election in hopes of electing the former businessman as president.
"The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end," Trump said to an N.R.A. convention crowd in April, 2017. "You have a true friend and champion in the White House."
Lawmakers were quick to condemn the massacre from their Capitol Hill bully pulpits on Wednesday, again igniting a national conversation around gun control. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) notably gave an impassioned floor speech, saying Congress is "responsible for a level of mass atrocity" in the United States.
Cruz, who has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, reportedly left a comment on a YouTube video in 2017, stating, "I'm going to be a professional school shooter." The FBI has said it investigated the comment at the time. If found guilty, Cruz could face a death penalty sentence.
"In times of tragedy, the bonds that sustain us are those of family, faith, community and country," Trump concluded. "These bonds are stronger than the forces of hatred and evil."
RELATED: A look at the shooting at Stoneham Douglas High School
