President Donald Trump says Florida State University mass shooting was a 'horrible thing'

Two people were killed in the shooting, and five people were injured and transported to local hospitals. The status of the injured is not clear, but the suspected shooter has also been taken to a hospital.

Published: April 17, 2025 6:39pm

President Donald Trump on Thursday told reporters at the White House that the deadly mass shooting at Florida State University earlier in the day was a "horrible thing." 

Two people were killed in the shooting, and five people were injured and transported to local hospitals. The status of the injured is not clear, but the suspected shooter has also been taken to the hospital. 

The president said that although the shooting was horrible, it did not impact his stance on the Second Amendment, and would not likely spur any serious changes to gun laws. 

"It's a shame. Horrible thing. Horrible that things like this take place," he said. "I’m a big advocate of the Second Amendment. I have been from the beginning. I’ve 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."

The president promised to have more comments on the shooting later in the day, when more information on it comes out. 

The suspect has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, the son of a Leon County sheriff's deputy and a current Florida State University student. Ikner's alleged motive has so far not been determined.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

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