Trump reacts to Deadly Florida State University Skytte

President Donald Trump weighing in on the deadly mass shooting on Florida State University on Thursday, April 17.

A Pistolman opened fire at the University’s Tallahassee Campus Thursday afternoon, leaving two dead and at least six injured. A suspect, identified by police as 20-year-old Phoenix IknerIs in custody, a spokesman for the Tallahassee Police confirmed earlier for people. The two deceased victims have not been publicly identified; However, the police say they are not students.

While talking to reporters on Oval Office on Thursday, Trump was asked if there are any changes he wants to see in gun legislation due to shooting.

“I’m a great advocate for the second amendment, I’ve been from the beginning,” Trump said in a clip published by C-Span. “I protected it.”

“These things are terrible. But the gun does not do shooting, the people do – a phrase that is probably used too often,” Trump continued. “It’s a shame. I just hear about it now. I know the area very well, I know the school very well, it’s Florida.”

Trump said he will “have more to say” in the future “, only when it comes to what happened.” But he does not plan to pursue changes in legislation.

“This has been going on for a long time. I have an obligation to protect the other amendment, I ran in the second amendment among many other things, and I will always protect the second amendment.”

Throughout the 2024 presidential election, Trump kept the protection of the second amendment at the forefront of his campaign. In 2025, Trump Administration announced plans to roll back a program that bursts into federally licensed arms dealers that fake business registers and have plans to skip customer background checks, per New York Times.

Florida Governor Ron desantis also dealt with the deadly shooting in a video that was shared into his official X account. He stated that he and his wife, Casey Desantis, “stand in solidarity and pray for the entire Florida State community.”

“We mourn the two individuals who lost their lives,” continued Desantis and adds, “and we wish those who are currently recovering at the hospital. This murderer must and will be fulfilled by the law.”

Desantis also thanked the first respondents to neutralize the suspect and prevent him “from causing more harm.”

“We’re all seminoles today,” Desantis said, referring to the university’s mascot.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil stated at a press conference earlier that Ikner is the son of a sheriff’s deputy who had been in the department for 18 years.

The authorities believe that he is a student at the university, Per Associated Press. Florida State University Police Department is responsible for the investigation, Leon County Sheriff’s Department told People.

Three different weapons were found in conjunction with the suspect: a gun on him at the scene, a shotgun in the student union and another gun in suspected car, CNN Reports.

A motive for mass shooting at Florida State University remains during investigation.