Trump vows to 'act with urgent resolve' after mass shootings but says 'mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun'


President Trump in a statement following two mass shootings over the weekend called out violent video games and social media while not mentioning his earlier proposal to tie gun background-check legislation with immigration reform.
Trump in a speech on Monday morning referred to the shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio as "barbaric slaughters" that are an "assault upon our communities, an attack upon our nation, and a crime against all of humanity." He went on to say that the United States must "condemn racism, bigotry, and white supremacy" while vowing to "act with urgent resolve."
Among Trump's proposals was having the Department of Justice work with local state and federal agencies, as well as with social media companies, to "develop tools that can detect mass shooters before they strike." He also said that "we must stop the glorification of violence in our society," which includes "gruesome" video games.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Additionally, Trump called for reforms to mental health laws that would "better identify mentally disturbed individuals," also expressing support for red flag laws and calling for those who commit hate crimes to receive the death penalty.
But Trump, notably, did not bring up his earlier idea of trying to pass gun background-check laws tied to immigration reform. Instead, he said that "mental illness and hatred pulled the trigger, not the gun." He also did not mention the background check legislation that has already passed in the House of Representatives. Brendan Morrow
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
May 31 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include how much to pay for a pardon, medical advice from a brain worm, and a simple solution to the national debt.
-
5 costly cartoons about the national debt
Cartoons Political cartoonists take on the USA's financial hole, rare bipartisan agreement, and Donald Trump and Mike Johnson.
-
Green goddess salad recipe
The Week Recommends Avocado can be the creamy star of the show in this fresh, sharp salad
-
White House tackles fake citations in MAHA report
speed read A federal government public health report spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was rife with false citations
-
Judge blocks push to bar Harvard foreign students
speed read Judge Allison Burroughs sided with Harvard against the Trump administration's attempt to block the admittance of international students
-
Trump's trade war whipsawed by court rulings
Speed Read A series of court rulings over Trump's tariffs renders the future of US trade policy uncertain
-
Elon Musk departs Trump administration
speed read The former DOGE head says he is ending his government work to spend more time on his companies
-
Trump taps ex-personal lawyer for appeals court
speed read The president has nominated Emil Bove, his former criminal defense lawyer, to be a federal judge
-
US trade court nullifies Trump's biggest tariffs
speed read The US Court of International Trade says Trump exceeded his authority in imposing global tariffs
-
Trump pauses all new foreign student visas
speed read The State Department has stopped scheduling interviews with those seeking student visas in preparation for scrutiny of applicants' social media
-
Trump pardons Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery
speed read Former sheriff Scott Jenkins was sentenced to 10 years in prison on federal bribery and fraud charges