President Donald Trump reacted to the deadly shooting at Florida State University on Thursday, arguing that guns are not to blame for the attack and promising to defend the Second Amendment.
The shooting left two people dead and at least six others wounded. Police identified the shooter as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a sheriff’s deputy. Authorities believe Ikner had access to one of his mother’s firearms, which was found at the scene.
Trump was asked about the tragedy during a press briefing in the Oval Office shortly after it happened.
A reporter asked, “Mr. President, there are now two deceased following the shooting at Florida State University. Is there any changes you want to see to gun legislation? Anything you see broken with gun laws?”
Trump responded, “I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I protected it. And these things are terrible. But the gun doesn’t do the shooting. The people do. It’s, you know, a phrase that’s used probably too often. I will tell you that it’s a shame. I’m just hearing about it now, just heard about it. I know the area very, very well. I know the school very well. I know everything about it. It’s Florida. And we’ll have more to say about it later on.”
When the reporter pressed for clarification, asking what Trump meant by “more to say,” the president replied, “Only in terms of what happened. 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.”
Watch the clip below:
Trump on FSU shooting: These things are terrible. But the gun doesn't do the shooting, the people do.. as far as legislation is concerned, I have an obligation to protect the second amendment pic.twitter.com/FelLyHUoDs
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 17, 2025
