White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement to the Washington Blade and other media outlets Obama would visit Orlando and meet with families of victims of the attack, which left 49 dead and 53 wounded.
“On Thursday, the president will travel to Orlando, Fla., to pay his respects to victims’ families, and to stand in solidarity with the community as they embark on their recovery,” Earnest said. “We will have more information on the president’s trip in the coming days.”
Earnest announced Obama is set to travel to Orlando after saying during the briefing on the same day the White House had no updates on the president’s schedule.
Obama called the shooting an “act of terror and an act of hate” on Sunday during remarks in the White House briefing room. The FBI is leading an investigation of the shooting in conjunction with local law enforcement officials.