Following a deadly shooting on a university campus in Tallahassee, Florida, the U.S. president appeared somber as he issued a response from the White House.
President Donald Trump delivered a brief statement from the Oval Office on Friday in response to the shooting at Florida State University (FSU), which occurred on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
“It’s a horrible thing. Horrible that things like this take place,” Trump said. He added that he had been “fully briefed” on the situation and described the tragedy as “a shame.”
When asked by reporters whether the shooting would lead him to consider tighter gun regulations, Trump reiterated his longstanding position on the Second Amendment. “These things are terrible. But the gun doesn’t do the shooting, the people do, phrases used probably too often,” he said.
Trump added, “As far as legislation is concerned, this has been going on for a long time. “I have an obligation to protect the Second Amendment. I ran on the Second Amendment, among many other things, and I will always protect the Second Amendment.”
He also remarked that he was familiar with the region, noting that he knew “the very area well” and had knowledge of both the university and the state of Florida.
The events that prompted Trump’s response were both swift and devastating, as outlined by local authorities. According to the Miami Herald, the shooting left two people dead and six others injured.
The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner — an FSU student and the son of a Leon County Sheriff’s deputy — used a handgun that had once belonged to his mother, which she had legally purchased for personal use. Ikner was shot by responding officers and taken into custody.
The attack occurred around noon near the university’s student union. Police later confirmed that the two people killed were not enrolled at FSU. The six others who were wounded were taken to the hospital. A motive has not yet been identified.
While investigators continue to piece together what led to the attack, Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said the department knew the suspect personally. Ikner had been involved in the sheriff’s Youth Advisory Council and had participated in several of the agency’s training programs.
“He has been steep in the Leon County Sheriff’s family, engaged in a number of training programs that we have … so it’s not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons,” McNeil said during a press briefing.
The shooting caused panic on campus, triggering a full lockdown. Among them was sophomore Paula Maldonado, who recounted the chaos to ABC News. She said that once the active threat alarm sounded, her class immediately turned off the lights and used desks to barricade the door.
Her classmates crouched together at the front of the room, whispering instructions and offering quiet comfort to one another. Some began to cry, while others gave safety tips — one student advised her to hold her backpack in front of her body as protection.
“A cop came inside and I thought it was the shooter, so it was very scary,” Maldonado recalled. After a few tense minutes, officers returned and instructed the students to exit the classroom with their hands raised.
In the aftermath, FSU President Richard McCullough addressed the university community, calling the incident a “tragic and senseless act of violence at the heart of our campus.” He said the university’s immediate focus was on supporting victims, their families, and the broader community.
“It means students, faculty, and staff who were nearby and are now trying to make sense of what they experienced. And it means every person in our campus community who is feeling shaken or overwhelmed,” McCullough said.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded publicly Thursday evening, posting a video on X in which he and his wife, Casey, offered condolences and support. “We’re mourning the two individuals who lost their lives in this tragic attack, and we wish well those who are currently recovering in the hospital,” he added.
DeSantis emphasized accountability, “This killer must and will be brought to justice to the fullest extent of the law.” He also praised the quick response from law enforcement officers, “They ran towards the danger, they stopped this killer from inflicting more harm, and there is no question that they saved lives.”
According to an update from FSU Alerts, the families of the victims have been notified. The university also announced that students who became separated from their belongings during the lockdown will be able to retrieve them in the coming days.
Trump’s remarks prompted a flood of responses online. One netizen commented, “Such deep and wise words from our profound leader.” Others were more critical. “I’m surprised they were able to pin him down for a comment between rounds of golf 🙄,” one wrote.
Another user stated, “He doesn’t know the words he never had sympathy for anyone or empathy for anyone. He only has sympathy and empathy for himself.” One post read, “The recent shooting is truly heartbreaking, and it’s important that we don’t overlook its impact. My thoughts and deepest condolences go out to everyone affected by this tragedy.”
More reactions followed. A separate commenter argued, “His lack and compassion is deafening,” while another urged, “Trump try using your big boy words.” One sarcastically added, “So articulate.”
Another asked bluntly, “1st grader talk?” while one noted, “This is the first time he has acknowledged a school shooting this year. I wonder what we don’t know yet.”
As communities continue to grapple with campus violence, another school shooting — this time in Tennessee — has left yet another family mourning.
The Metro Nashville Police Department has shared the identity of the 16-year-old girl who was killed at Antioch High School on January 22, 2025.
The victim, who was fatally wounded at the cafeteria of the school, has been identified as Josselin Corea Escalante. She was shot alongside two other students. One of the two is a male student who suffered a graze to the arm and he was treated and released from Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
