Fifty people were killed and another 53 wounded early Sunday morning when a gunman opened fire in a crowded LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, Florida, according to officials. The shooter has been identified by law enforcement as Omar Mateen, an American citizen living in Florida. The incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism. For the latest on what is believed to be the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, visit Slate’s live-blog. Below is a round-up of reactions from the world of politics. We will continue to update this post with additional statements as they become available.
President Obama:
Hillary Clinton:
Donald Trump:
Bernie Sanders:
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio:
Vice President Joe Biden’s office:
The Vice President was briefed this morning by his national security advisor on the heinous attack that took place overnight at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida. Vice President Biden offered his prayers for all those killed and injured in the shooting and sends his condolences to all the families and loved ones of the victims. He is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to receive regular updates as we know more.
Florida Gov. Rick Scott:
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley:
Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee:
