Donald Trump finds words of comfort for 'nation in mourning' with Las Vegas visit after leaving Puerto Rico under cloud
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Version 0 of 1. Donald Trump used a visit to Las Vegas to express the sorrow and shock felt across the US in the wake of the deadliest mass shooting the country has seen in modern history, saying that “America is truly a nation in mourning”. Having started the day by taking off from Washington by calling it "a very, very sad day for me, personally," the president ended it by striking a sombre and stately tone that sits in contrast to his visit to Puerto Rico the day before. It was on that trip he suggested the devastation wrought by Hurricane Maria had put the US budget “out of whack,” Praising the bravery of first responders and seeking to comfort the families of victims during his final address of the day, Mr Trump said: “We know that your sorrow feels endless. We stand together to help you carry your pain... You’re not alone. We will never leave your side.” The president — and First Lady Melania Trump — travelled to Las Vegas as investigators searched for the motive behind the attack, blamed on former accountant Stephen Paddock. Paddock is said to have stockpiled dozens of weapons, using a number of rifles to rain bullets onto a crowd of country music festival patrons from the 32nd floor of his Mandalay Bay hotel suite. Fifty-eight people were killed, before Paddock turned a gun on himself, and hundreds more were injured. The FBI were questioning Marilou Danley, Paddock's girlfriend, on Wednesday night to see if she could provide any clues - but in a statement Ms Danley said she was "unaware" of any of his actions that led to the shooting. The trip to Las Vegas provided another test of Mr Trump’s credentials as the nations comforter-in-chief after his visit to storm-battered San Juan. After a day visiting victims and survivors, medical staff and first responders, Mr Trump finished with an address at the Las Vegas Police Department’s command centre, promising to stand by all those affected by the actions of a man he called “sick and demented”. “We cannot be defined by the evil that threatens us or the violence that incites such terror,” he said. “We’re defined by our love, our caring, and our courage. In the darkest moments, what shines most brightly is the goodness that thrives in the hearts of our people.” Returning to a theme that had run through his day, praising the “incredible bravery” of the medics, police, firefighters and civilians who had helped victims, Mr Trump said the “whole world” had seen what the best of what America had to offer. “Words cannot describe the bravery that the whole world witnessed on Sunday night. Americans defied death and hatred with love and courage. When the the worst of humanity and strike it did the best of humanity responds,” he said.
The president had started the day by travelling to the University Medical Center that had treated many victims. On the way, he passed the Mandalay Bay, holes still visible in the windows the gunman had shot from. In the morning, authorities had opened the stretch of the Las Vegas strip passing by the casino and hotel. But police officers continued to block an approach road and hotel security was turning people way, while yellow police tape sealed off entrances. That did not stop clusters of curious onlookers from gathering on the sidewalks encircling the casino. A truck slowed down so a man in the passenger seat could point his phone at the ornate fountain that sits outside the shining gold Mandalay. Across the street, towers of speakers marked the concert grounds where scores of people were slain. When he reached the hospital, Mr Trump praised the “indescribable” job medics had done, and that many victims would be leaving in the coming in the coming days and weeks. He said he had met with some patients who were “very, very badly wounded, and they were badly wounded because they refused to leave… They wanted to help others”. Mr Trump has faced calls from some quarters - including many Democrats in Congress - to look at gun control legislation, but he deflected a question about gun violence at the hospital. “We are not going to talk about that today,” he said. Later, at the police headquarters as groups of firefighters, paramedics and police officers trickled out after Mr Trump’s visit, state trooper Tom Vernon paused to say first responders ”appreciate [President Trump] coming in this horrible time“. Asked whether the topic of gun control came up, Mr Vernon said ”this isn't the time for that“. ”It's time to heal, not worry about politics“, he said. Elsewhere in the city, others were less pleased with Mr Trump’s visit, and his lack of willingness to engage in a debate about gun control. “Unless he's giving blood I'm not welcoming him here”, said 45-year old Jason Engel, a Marine veteran outside one of the centres where civilians can give blood to help victims. April Engel - Mr Engel's wife - said she was “not a fan” of the president, a feeling that was strengthened by Mr Trump not backing tighter gun restrictions over Paddock’s stockpiling of arms. “He doesn't even want to address gun control? Come on”, Ms Engel said. |