Update: In a press conference Monday morning, Orlando police confirmed that 49 people had been killed and 53 injured early Sunday morning at Orlando's Pulse gay nightclub in the deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. history. After opening fire on the crowd, an individual named Omar Mateen had taken hostages and was ultimately killed in a stand-off with police; Mateen had called 911 and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State shortly before the massacre. Orlando mayor Buddy Dyer declared a state of emergency, and the massacre is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
The victims' names were released by the city of Orlando on its website as their next of kin were informed. Here are some ways to help the Orlando shooting victims and their loved ones; you can also donate to the victims' fund, as well as express your solidarity with the LGBTQ community by posting a tribute online. You can also attend a vigil near you to honor the victims.
Earlier: In the wake of the mass shooting in Orlando at the gay night club Pulse on early Sunday morning that left 50 deceased and at least another 50 injured, many politicians have taken to Twitter to voice their sympathies with those affected by the attack. Donald Trump posted a second tweet about the Orlando shooting shortly after posting his first tweet, which read, "Really bad shooting in Orlando. Police investigating possible terrorism. Many people dead and wounded." He received scrutiny on Twitter shortly thereafter for posting a tweet about Hillary Clinton making a "false ad" about him, which many considered disrespectful in the aftermath of these tragic events.
Since the presumptive Republican presidential nominee originally tweeted, more details about the attack emerged, including news that the death toll had risen from 20 to 50. Trump did not delete either of his original tweets from this morning regarding the attack or Clinton, but added a second tweet about the attack, saying, "Horrific incident in FL. Praying for all the victims & their families. When will this stop? When will we get tough, smart & vigilant."
Here are all of the tweets Donald Trump has posted this morning since news broke about the mass shooting, in order of first to most recent:
Trump has not offered any comment aside from these posts on Twitter at the present time, nor any explanation to exactly what he is alluding to regarding the nation becoming "tough, smart and vigilant". The presumptive candidate's campaign is notoriously pro-gun and anti-LGBT legislation, two issues at the heart of this attack, which is being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism. This attack marks the worst mass shooting in U.S. History, so undoubtedly there will be a lot of eyes on Trump and how he ultimately chooses to formally respond to this attack.
