PHOTOS: Obama, Biden pay respects to victims of Orlando shooting

Fort-nine people died and 53 were injured when a gunman opened fire on members of the LGBTQ community at an Orlando club in the early hours of Sunday, June 12.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden visited Orlando on Thursday, meeting with victims of the shooting and laying flowers at a memorial.

“Today once again, as has been true too many times before, I held and hugged grieving family members and parents, and they asked why does this keep happening?” Obama said in a speech. “This debate needs to change. It’s outgrown the old political stalemates.”