*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2017 *

**Remarks Following a Meeting With Shooting Victims and Medical Professionals and an Exchange With Reporters in Las Vegas, Nevada **

*October 4, 2017 *

*The President.* Hi, everybody. I just have to tell you that I just met some of the most amazing people. We met patients that were absolutely terribly wounded. And the doctors, the nurses, all of the people at the hospital have done a job that's indescribable. And they were full the night that it happened, before it happened.

*University Medical Center Trauma Management Program Medical Director Dr. John Fildes. *Correct.

*The President*. And they found room for many people. How many people came in, Doctor?

*Dr. Fildes. *We had 100 come in, and we admitted 50.

*The President.* What I saw today is just an incredible tribute to professionalism, and what they have done is incredible. And you never want to see it again, that I can tell you.

*Dr. Fildes*. Absolutely.

*The President*. And the patients, the bravery——

*Dr. Fildes*. Amazing.

*The President*. Some were very, very badly wounded, and they were badly wounded because they refused to leave. They wanted to help others because they saw people going down all over.

And it's an incredible thing to see. There's tremendous bravery. The police department, incredible. The people themselves, incredible. People leaving ambulances to have somebody else go, because they thought they were hurt even more so. The professionalism of the doctors and the medical staffs at this hospital and at other hospitals—you're saying how the coordination that you had with other hospitals——

*Dr. Fildes.* The community covered everything. They did a perfect job.

*The President.* John, say a few words to the press. [*Laughter*]

*Dr. Fildes.* We couldn't be more proud of the community response. Every hospital took serious patients. Everybody took care of them well. And we've exercised our disaster plan in Las Vegas, and it was rolled out flawlessly.

*The President.* I have to tell you, it makes you very proud to be an American when you see the job that they've done. And people that would not be around today are up there, and they'll be leaving the hospital in a week or 2 weeks or 5 weeks and in some cases, even in a few days.

*Dr. Fildes.* A few hours.

*The President.* It's amazing. One in a few hours. And you would never have believed that.

So I just want to congratulate everybody. It's incredible. Incredible what you've done. We met quite a few people. And believe me, they are very lucky to be here. *Shootings in Las Vegas, NV *

*Q. *What message did you have for them, Mr. President?

*The President.* Well, I think the only message I can say is that we're with you a hundred percent. We are—in fact, I invited a lot of them over to the White House. [*Laughter*] I said, if you're ever over in Washington, come on over to the Oval Office. [*Laughter*] And they're all saying: "We want to do it. How do we do it?" And believe me, I'll be there for them.

But the message that I have is: We have a great country, and we are there for you. And they're there for us.

*Gun Control *

*Q. *Mr. President, does America have a gun violence problem?

*The President.* Well, we're not going to talk about that today. We won't talk about that.

*Shootings in Las Vegas, NV *

*Q. *Any indication of a motive, sir?

*The President.* Not yet, and we're looking. I can tell you, it's a very sick man. He was a very demented person. We haven't seen that yet, but you will know very soon if we find something. We're looking very, very hard.

I'm actually going over to the police department, who likewise, Doctor, have been incredible.

*Dr. Fildes.* Unbelievable.

*The President.* The fact that they were able to locate that zone and get in there—they say 11 minutes—whatever it was, it kept him busy, and he stopped firing because he knew they were coming into that door at some point. And I think they did an incredible job.

The professionalism has just been amazing. So I want to thank you all. And we're now going over to the police headquarters.

And, doctors, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Fantastic. Fantastic. Thank you.

*Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson *

*Q. *Mr. President, any response to Rex Tillerson's comments allegedly——

*The President.* Yes. I'm very honored by his comments. It was fake news. It was a totally phony story.

Thank you very much. It was made up. It was made up by NBC. They just made it up.

Thank you all. Thank you.

*Q. *Do you have confidence in him?

*The President.* Total confidence in Rex. I have total confidence.

Thank you very much, everybody.

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:53 a.m. at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada. In his remarks, he referred to Stephen C. Paddock, suspected gunman in the shootings at the Route 91 Harvest Festival adjacent to the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV, on October 1.

*Categories:* Addresses and Remarks : Shootings in Las Vegas, NV :: Shooting victims and medical professionals, meeting in Las Vegas; Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters*.*

*Locations: *Las Vegas, NV.* *

*Names:* Fildes, John; Paddock, Stephen C.; Tillerson, Rex W.

*Subjects:* Communications : News media :: Accuracy and fairness; Law enforcement and crime : Gun control; Law enforcement and crime : Law enforcement officers, service and dedication; Nevada : Las Vegas :: Shootings; Nevada : President's visit; State, Department of : Secretary.

*DCPD Number:* DCPD201700719.