Trump sends 'condolences and sympathies' to Las Vegas shooting victims

WASHINGTON — President Trump on Monday tweeted his condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert that left at least 58 dead and hundreds wounded.

“My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting. God bless you!” he wrote.

“The president has been briefed on the horrific tragedy in Las Vegas,” said White House press secretary Sarah Sanders in a statement. “We are monitoring the situation closely and offer our full support to state and local officials. All of those affected are in our thoughts and prayers.”

“We are with you,” she said on Twitter.

In the past, Trump has struggled to unite the nation in times of tragedy and shown an unusual willingness to set aside the presidential role of comforter in chief for a more pointed and partisan back-and-forth, especially in the days following major events. Trump spent the weekend tweeting attacks on the media and the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, over reports that aid for the Hurricane Maria-battered island has been slow to arrive, leaving most of the territory without power and water.

The Las Vegas shooting is the deadliest since the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando in June 2016, after which Trump tweeted “Appreciate the congrats!” and said he was being praised “for being right on radical Islamic terrorism.”

On Monday, Trump tweeted from his personal account and was retweeted from the official presidential account. The motive for the shooting in Las Vegas remains unclear.

Vice President Pence used his official account to send three tweets offering prayers, love, condolences and sympathies to the victims, their families and loved ones. He also thanked the Las Vegas first responders.

“Our collective hearts are breaking for the victims and their families,” tweeted presidential aide and first daughter Ivanka Trump.

Related slideshow: Scenes from Las Vegas mass shooting >>>

_____

Read more from Yahoo News:

• A surreal scene as Las Vegas returns to business after Sunday massacre

• Las Vegas casino workers recognize Stephen Paddock: ‘I wish I had never seen his face’

• Portrait of a mass killer: The details don’t add up

• Las Vegas, a ‘soft target,’ long feared an attack

• Las Vegas investigation focuses on Paddock’s finances and travel: Sources

• Photos: Scenes from the Las Vegas mass shooting

• Photos: Makeshift memorials pay tribute to Las Vegas shooting victims

• Photos: The front page: How newspapers portrayed the Vegas massacre

• Photos: Trump visits Las Vegas after deadly mass shooting