US President Donald Trump has said his trip to visit the victims of a mass shooting in Las Vegas is a sad day for him, personally.

Boarding a helicopter to the Nevada city, Mr Trump told reporters the shooting was a “very sad thing”.

“We’re going to pay our respects and to see the police, who have done really a fantastic job in a very short time,” Mr Trump said of his trip. “...It’s a very, very sad day for me, personally. Thank you.”

The President was scheduled to visit Las Vegas for three hours on Wednesday, just days after a lone gunman opened fire on a country music concert. The shooting, which injured more than 500 people killed at least 58, was the deadliest in US history.

In a speech shortly after the shooting, Mr Trump called it an “act of pure evil”.

“Melania and I are praying for every American who has been hurt, wounded or lost the ones they loved so dearly in this terrible, terrible attack,” he said.

Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People scramble for shelter at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People carry a person at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after gun fire was heard David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A handout photo released via Twitter by Eiki Hrafnsson (@EirikurH) showing concertgoers running away from the scene (C) after shots range out at the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Eiki Hrafnsson Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People lie on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A man in a wheelchair is taken away from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after hearing gun fire David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures People stand on the street outside the Mandalay Bay hotel near the scene of the Route 91 Harvest festival on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA/Paul Buck Las Vegas shooting – in pictures FBI agents confer in front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting during a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas police run by a banner on the fence at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival grounds after shots were fired David Becker/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures An injured person is tended to in the intersection of Tropicana Ave. and Las Vegas Boulevard after a mass shooting at a country music festival Ethan Miller/Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Metro Police officers pass by the front of the Tropicana hotel-casino after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A woman sits on a curb at the scene of a shooting outside of a music festival along the Las Vegas Strip AP/John Locher Las Vegas shooting – in pictures A cowboy hat lays in the street after shots were fired near a country music festival in Las Vegas Getty Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Las Vegas Metro Police and medical workers stage in the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard South after a mass shooting at a music festival on the Las Vegas Strip Reuters/Las Vegas Sun/Steve Marcus Las Vegas shooting – in pictures Sheriff Joe Lombardo (2-R) speaking during a press briefing in the aftermath of the active shooter incident on Las Vegas Boulevard EPA

He added: “We pray for the entire nation to find unity and peace, and we pray for the day when evil is banished and the innocent are safe from hatred and from fear.”

Asked whether he would use the opportunity to speak about gun control, however, he said: “Perhaps that will come. But that's not for now.”

The President and the First Lady planned to meet with patients, doctors, and first responders from the shooting during their trip to Las Vegas. They had returned the day before from Puerto Rico, where they surveyed the damage from Hurricane Maria.

Las Vegas shooting: What we know so far

Police are still searching for a motive in the Las Vegas shooting.

The shooter, identified by police as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, was a divorced retiree who lived in nearby Mesquite, Nevada. He was a frequent gambler who enjoyed VIP status at various Las Vegas casinos, according to NBC News.

On 1 October, he began shooting at concert-goers from his 32nd-floor hotel room in Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. He fired for approximately nine minutes, before shooting and killing himself when a SWAT team arrived.

Police later found more than 20 weapons in Paddock's hotel room, along with various cameras placed around the room. Police believe he used the cameras to monitor those approaching.

Sheriff Joseph Lombardo, who leads the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said Mr Trump had called him the day after the shooting. He thanked the President for his support and prayers.