President Donald Trumpresponded to the mas shooting over the weekend at Brown University, telling a crowd gathered at the White House that "things can happen" while offering "deepest regards" to the families of students who died and urging a speedy recovery for the injured.
Theattack at Brown, an Ivy League school in Rhode Island, on Dec. 13 left at least two dead and nine injured. Authorities detained a person of interest in the shooting but laterreleased the individual and resumed searching for the shooter.
"Brown University, great school... really one of the greatest schools anywhere in the world,"Trump said Dec. 14at a White House Christmas reception. "Things can happen. So to the nine injured - get well fast; and to the families of those two that are no longer with us, I pay my deepest regards and respects from the United States of America."
Police responded to reports of an active shooter on Brown University's campus in Providence, Rhode Island on Dec. 13, 2025" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
An alert on Dec. 13 said to run from the Barus and Holley Building at 184 Hope Street near the university. Here is the building in an undated photograph." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Shots fired at Brown University: Photos show the scene
Police responded to reports ofan active shooter on Brown University's campusin Providence, Rhode Island on Dec. 13, 2025
The Brown shooting occurred in an engineering building during final exams. University President Christina Paxon said one of the injured people has been released from the hospital and most of those who remain in the hospital are in critical but stable condition.
Trump also lamented deadly attacks this weekend targeting Jewish individuals in Australia and American service members in Syria.
The attack in Syriakilled two Army soldiers and an interpreter traveling in a convoy of American and Syrian forces. Three other U.S. military members were injured. Trump said there will be "big damage done" in response to the attack.
In Australia,at least 16 people were killedand many more injured during a shootingthat targeted a Hanukkahevent at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
While celebrating Christmas Dec. 14, Trump said he also wanted to "loudly" say "we celebrate Hanukkah."
"Because that was such a horrible attack," he said. "That was a purely antisemitic attack."
Contributing:Phaedra Trethan,Charles Ventura, Christopher Cann, Eryn Dion, Katie Mulvaney,Katie Landeck,Karissa Waddick,Phaedra TrethanNatalie Eilbert,Kim Hjelmgaard, Kathryn Palmer, James Powel,Phillip M. Bailey
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Trump responds to Brown University shooting, offers 'deepest regards'
