Last Updated Jun 29, 2018 12:39 PM EDT
President Trump took a moment at a GOP tax bill event at the White House Friday to mourn the five victims of the shooting at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, the day before. The suspect in those deaths has been charged with five counts of murder.
“Before going any further, I’d like to address the horrific shooting that took place yesterday at Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, Maryland,” Mr. Trump said. “This attack shocked the conscience of our nation and filled our hearts with grief. Journalists, like all Americans, should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their jobs. To the families of the victims there are no words to express our sorrow for your loss. Horrible, horrible event. Horrible, horrible thing happened.”
“In your suffering, we pledge our eternal support,” the president continued. “This suffering is so great. I’ve seen some of the people. So great. My government will not rest until we have done everything in our power to reduce violent crime and to protect innocent life. We will not ever leave your side. So our warmest best wishes and regrets. A horrific and horrible thing.”
Mr. Trump’s event is intended to commemorate the more than six months that have passed since he signed the GOP tax bill into law.
“The economy is indeed doing well,” the president said, calling the tax cuts an economic “miracle.”
Mr. Trump has spent the months since December traveling around the country, touting the benefits of the tax overhaul in roundtable event after roundtable event ahead of the midterms. Republicans hope to use the issue to help propel them to victories. Mr. Trump has said he wanted to call the law the “Tax Cut Cut Cut Cut Act,” but decided perhaps that was a bit too “hokey.” The president has declared the tax bill one of the largest, if not the single-largest, accomplishments of his administration so far.
Mr. Trump is expected to leave Washington later Friday afternoon for his club Bedminster, New Jersey.
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