Email Share 55 Shares

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Monday the shooting over the weekend at a gay nightclub in Orlando wasn’t just an attack on LGBT people, but an attack on American values of diversity and tolerance.

Earnest made the remarks in the first White House news conference after the shooting that left 49 people dead and 53 wounded.

“Obviously, it’s been a difficult 36 hours for our country,” Earnest said. “And you’ve had an opportunity to hear from the president in the last 24 hours about his concerns both in terms of continuing to do what’s necessary to protect the country and to get to the bottom of what exactly happened, and to make sure that our country continues to be united, and that in the face of this unspeakable act of violence, that we don’t give into the temptation to turn on one another.”

In the aftermath of President Obama’s meeting with national security advisers earlier on Monday, Earnest said Obama intends to hold second meeting early Tuesday at the Treasury Department on efforts to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq & Syria.

Questions on the Orlando shooting took up the preponderance of the briefing, which included inquiries on information about the investigation, Obama’s support for banning assault rifles, apparent daylight between Obama and Clinton for her use of the term “radical Islamism.”.

Under questioning from the Washington Blade, Earnest acknowledged the attacks have significance in the context of the struggle for LGBT rights, even though he cautioned the investigation into the attacks isn’t yet complete.

“What is clear is that the LGBT community in Orlando was attacked,” Earnest said. “This country was attacked. Our commitment to inclusion and dignity and diversity and tolerance came under attack. And it’s critically important that we unite in the face of that threat.”

Earnest said people in Orlando lining up around the block to give blood and bystanders responding to fellow citizens lying in the street has been “powerful” and “represents what our country is about.”

“And I think the president is certainly hopeful that that is the kind of spirit that will continue to be on display in the days and weeks and months ahead as the community of Orlando embarks on what is surely to be a long recovery from this very painful incident,” Earnest added.

Earnest rejected the notion the attacks represent a setback for LGBT people in the aftermath of the victories on same-sex marriage and other civil rights efforts.

“I don’t think the LGBT community or the American people are going to shrink in the face of this kind of terrorist attack,” Earnest said. “I’m not concerned about that. I think the kind of strength and perseverance that’s been on display in the LGBT community for more than a generation now in the fight for equality I think is an indication that they’re not going to be cowed by violence perpetrated by this terrorist.”

Earnest had no comment on statements from Republicans like U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who condemned the shootings without explicitly saying the incident took place at a gay nightclub or the victims were LGBT.

“I’m not going to Monday morning quarterback those kinds of statements,” Earnest said. “I’ll let those individual members of Congress explain their views on this. But the president certainly had an opportunity to explain his views, and the resident obviously stands by them.”

Asked why he thinks Republicans left out the nature of victims in their responses, Earnest replied, “I do not know why. I do not know why.”

In response to a question from the Associated Press on whether Obama would travel to Orlando, Earnest said he has no update on Obama’s schedule. In the aftermath of the attacks, Obama cancelled a trip scheduled on Wednesday to Green Bay, Wis.