After Shooting at Orlando Gay Club, Trump Says Obama Should Resign, Clinton Should Drop Out of Race

Following the worst mass shooting in U.S. history, the two presumptive candidates in the 2016 presidential election wasted little time in releasing statements and unleashing tweets about the violence and how to prevent future deaths.

At least 50 people were killed and dozens others injured Sunday at Pulse Orlando Night Club & Ultra Lounge, a popular gay bar. The alleged gunman was identified as 29-year-old Omar Mir Seddique Mateen, an American citizen born to Afghan parents in New York. Before the shooting, Mateen reportedly called 911 and pledged his allegiance to the Islamic State.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump didn't hold back, tweeting that he did not want "congrats" for being "right" on radical Islamic terrorism while not mentioning his proposed ban on Muslims coming to the United States would not have included the gunman, who was born in the United States. 

President Obama addressed the nation Sunday afternoon, calling the shooting, "an act of terror and an act of hate." As jaded Obama addressed the nation, as he has done countless times before, Trump tweeted that Obama should resign if he doesn't mention the words, "radical Islamic terrorism."

Trump issued a lengthy statement later in the day, calling on the presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to drop out of the race if she too cannot say the words, "radical Islam." 

"If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country anymore. Because our leaders are weak, I said this was going to happen – and it is only going to get worse. I am trying to save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack. We can't afford to be politically correct anymore," he said in the statement.

Trump's method to "save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack" is by calling for a ban on all Muslims from entering the United States, a strategy Obama has in the past referred to as, "not productive."

Clinton issued the following statement calling the shooting an, "act of terror," and said that guns like the one used in the Orlando shooting need to be kept out of the hands of terrorists and other violent criminals.

“I join Americans in praying for the victims of the attack in Orlando, their families and the first responders who did everything they could to save lives.
“This was an act of terror. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are hard at work, and we will learn more in the hours and days ahead. For now, we can say for certain that we need to redouble our efforts to defend our country from threats at home and abroad. That means defeating international terror groups, working with allies and partners to go after them wherever they are, countering their attempts to recruit people here and everywhere, and hardening our defenses at home. It also means refusing to be intimidated and staying true to our values.
“This was also an act of hate. The gunman attacked an LGBT nightclub during Pride Month. To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country. I am one of them. We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America.
“Finally, we need to keep guns like the ones used last night out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals. This is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States and it reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets.
“This is a time to stand together and resolve to do everything we can to defend our communities and country.”

The shooting will no doubt take an important role in the 2016 presidential election with Clinton campaign already issuing a statement in response to Trump.

"Hillary Clinton has a comprehensive plan to combat ISIS at home and abroad and will be talking to the American people in the coming days about steps she would take to keep the country safe," Jennifer Palmieri, communications director for the Hillary Clinton campaign, said in a statement to BuzzFeed news. "In contrast, Donald Trump put out political attacks, weak platitudes and self-congratulations."

Obama and Clinton, who were set to start campaigning together this week, have postponed Wednesday's campaign event in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The two were set to start campaigning following Obama's recent endorsement of Clinton's campaign.

Clinton's opponent, Bernie Sanders, issued a statement saying, "all Americans are horrified, disgusted and saddened by the horrific atrocity in Orlando."

"At this point we do not know whether this was an act of terrorism, a terrible hate crime against gay people or the act of a very sick person, but we extend out heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and loved ones and out thoughts are with the injured and the entire Orlando LGBTQ community," he said.

Despite Obama's successes in office, he has been unable to pass gun control legislation that has been successful in reducing violence, something he seemed frustrated over on Sunday.

"Today marks the most deadly shooting in American history. The shooter was apparently armed with a handgun and a powerful assault rifle," Obama said. " This massacre is therefore a further reminder of how easy it is for someone to get their hands on a weapon that lets them shoot people in a school, or in a house of worship, or a movie theater, or in a nightclub. And we have to decide if that’s the kind of country we want to be. And to actively do nothing is a decision as well."

Mateen was able to purchase the guns used in the shooting legally. He had been previously questioned by the FBI for possible links to Islamic extremism, however no conclusive evidence was found linking him to terrorism.

Images via Gage Skidmore via Flickr Creative Commons