Joe Biden will address the nation on the deadly Texas school shooting upon his return to the White House from Japan Tuesday evening, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced. The speech is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. EDT.
White House flag lowered to half-staff, screen image via ABC News/Twitter.
“President Biden has been briefed on the horrific news of the elementary school shooting in Texas and will continue to be briefed regularly as information becomes available…His prayers are with the families impacted by this awful event, and he will speak this evening when he arrives back at the White House.”
The White House also issued a statement from Biden ordering flags lowered to half-staff until sunset on Saturday, May 28 to honor those killed in the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Tuesday that killed at least 14 students and one teacher. The alleged shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Romas was reported killed by police. There are reports of several wounded being treated at area hospitals and that two officers were injured but not seriously wounded by gunfire.
The shooting took place early afternoon local time. Biden’s order comes within hours of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced the preliminary death toll from the shooting.
A Proclamation Honoring The Victims Of The Tragedy In Uvalde, Texas
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on May 24, 2022, by a gunman at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 28, 2022. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-two, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-sixth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
ABC News posted video from the White House following Biden’s announcement:
AP reporter Zeke Miller captured the moment the flags were lowered: