Trump Las Vegas visit - live updates
President Trump visited Las Vegas Wednesday, days after the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history and a day after his visit to Puerto Rico see the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria.
"We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us," Mr. Trump said at his final stop after being introduced by Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. "We're defined by our love, our caring and our courage."
Mr. Trump said that when the worst of humanity strikes, "the best of humanity responds" and referenced parents and spouses using their bodies to shield and protect their loved ones during the shooting.
The president and First Lady Melania Trump went to University Medical Center's trauma center to meet with and console some of the victims of the massacre, and also paid a visit to first responders, whose actions prevented even more casualties. The two were accompanied by House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-California, and Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada. Constituents of both were killed or injured in the attack.
On Sunday night, Stephen Paddock, perched on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel on the Las Vegas strip, shot and killed 59 people, and wounded over 500 before killing himself.
As the president departed the White House, he told reporters, "It's a very sad thing. We are going to pay our respects and to see the police who have done really a fantastic job in a very short time." He also said officials were learning "a lot more" about the shooter, Stephen Paddock, and that information about him would be released "at an appropriate time." "It's a very, very sad day for me, personally," the president said.
On Tuesday, the president called the shooting an "act of pure evil" and said, "I know we are searching for some kind of meaning in the chaos, some kind of light in the darkness. The answers do not come easy."
Trump's Las Vegas visit updates follow below:
Trump says Americans can't be defined by the "evil that threatens us"
The president delivered remarks at his final stop in Las Vegas after an introduction from Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval.
"We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us," Mr. Trump said. "We're defined by our love, our caring and our courage."
The president recognized victims who he visited at a hospital earlier in the day and law enforcement who were killed Sunday.
"Our souls are stricken with grief for every American," he said. "We know that your sorrow feels endless...We stand together to help you carry your pain."
Mr. Trump said that when the worst of humanity strikes, "the best of humanity responds" and referenced parents and spouses using their bodies to shield and protect their loved ones during the shooting.
Trump meets with police, first responders
"I want to congratulate you on a job well done," Mr. Trump said in addressing police officers and first responders from the shooting, adding of the rescue efforts of concertgoers, "you saved them."
"I was a fan before this, a big fan before this and I guess I'm even more of a fan now, you showed the world and the world is watching, you showed what professionalism is all about," Mr. Trump added.
Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said it was still a "little bit too soon" to speculate on the shooter's motives but investigators were "working our way through that."
The president entered a large room full of law enforcement officers who were instrumental in dealing with Sunday's shooting and is helping the investigation.
"You have been a real inspiration," Mr. Trump said, adding if they hadn't gotten up to the shooter's hotel room so quickly, "It could have been worse -- a lot worse."
Trump "very honored" by Tillerson's remarks
The president called reports that Secretary Tillerson was due to depart his role over infighting in the administration "fake news" and a "totally phony story."
"It was made up by NBC," he added when addressing staff members at UMC in Nevada. He said that he had "total confidence" in Tillerson's ability to lead the State department.
President arrives at University Medical Center
Trump and the first lady arrive to UMC to meet privately with victims, families, and medical professionals.
Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders tweeted several photos from the visit, with the president surrounded by staff members at the hospital.
The president was later seen walking the halls of the hospital with Mrs. Trump and several staff members and doctors.
"I just met some of the most amazing people, we met patients that were terribly wounded and the doctors, nurses all the people in the hospital have done a job that's indescribable," said Mr. Trump of the staff.
He said he was told the hospital was full the night of the shooting, saying it was a "tribute to professionalism."
"It makes it you very proud to be an American to see the job they've done," he added. He said "the only message I can say is we're with you 100 percent."
He said he invited many of the staff members over for a visit to the White House and called the shooter a "very sick" and "demented person."
When asked if he would be considering any possible gun violence legislation down the road, he brushed off reporters, saying today was not the time to discuss it.
Mr. Trump is now due to meet with first responders and officials at a local police station.
Trump, first lady greet Las Vegas sheriff
Upon departing Air Force One, Mr. and Mrs. Trump greeted Sheriff Joseph Lombardo of Clark County who has been leading the investigation into the deadly shooting.
Sheriff Lombardo told reporters on the tarmac that the suspect's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, would be questioned in next half hour at the FBI's Los Angeles field office.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Richard Amodei, R-Nevada, and Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nevada, also joined the president on the trip and were seen disembarking the plane.
Mr. Trump and the first lady are now expected to meet with victims, family members and medical professionals to thank them for their life-saving efforts.
He told reporters earlier at the White House before departing for Las Vegas that today would be a "very sad" day for him.
"We're going to pay our respects and to see the police who have done really a fantastic job in a very short time." He added that investigators are "learning a lot more" about the shooter Stephen Paddock and it would "be announced at the appropriate time."
Air Force One lands in Las Vegas ahead of day of meetings
President Trump lands at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport as he's set to meet with survivors and first responders to the deadly mass shooting that left over 50 dead.
Toward the end of the flight, when asked if Mr. Trump had confidence in Secretary Tillerson, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters, "As we've said many times before, if the president doesn't have confidence in somebody, they will no longer be in their position."
Trump tweets ahead of landing in Las Vegas
The president was active on Twitter during his flight to Nevada, spending some of the trip dispelling reports of tensions surrounding his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The secretary made a public statement while Mr. Trump was in the air, denying reports that he would be stepping down from his role by saying, "I have never considered leaving this post."
Mr. Trump later tweeted that he would be landing in Las Vegas to "pay his respects with @FLOTUS Melania." He added, "Everyone remains in our thoughts and prayers."
