By Sandy Fitzgerald From Newsmax

President Donald Trump, calling the massacre at a country music festival in Las Vegas “an act of pure evil,” asked the nation to unite in prayer. In a somber message, he said  he has ordered the nation’s “great flag be flown at half staff” in memory of those who lost their lives, and plans to visit the shocked city Wednesday.

“Last night a gunman opened fire on a large crowd at a country music concert in Las Vegas, Nevada,” Trump said during an appearance at the White House. “He brutally murdered more than 50 people and wounded hundreds more. It was an act of pure evil.”

Trump said the FBI and Department of Homeland Security are working closely with local authorities in Las Vegas to assist with the investigation into why 64-year-old Mesquite, Nevada resident Stephen Craig Paddock opened fire from a 32nd-story room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino Sunday night on a crowd of more than 20,000 people enjoying the end of the Route 91 Harvest Festival.

Meanwhile, the White House also issued a proclamation on the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.

Both federal agencies will provide updates to the investigation and its developments, Trump said, noting that he wanted to thank the Las Vegas police department and all first responders for their courageous efforts and for helping save so many lives.

“The speed with which they acted is miraculous, and prevented further loss of life,” said Trump. “To have found the shooter so quickly after the first shots were fired is something for which we will always be thankful and grateful. It shows what true professionalism is all about.”

At least 50 people were killed and 400 more injured, and Trump said “we cannot imagine” the pain and loss citizens mourning the sudden loss of a “loved one, a parent, a child, a brother, or sister.”

“To the families of the victims, we are praying for you and we are here for you,’ said Trump. “We ask God to help see you through this very dark period. Scripture teaches us the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. We seek comfort in those words, for we know that God lives in the hearts of those who grieve.”

Trump said the White House is also praying for the full and speedy recovery of the victims now recovering in Las Vegas-area hospitals and “pledge to you our support from this day forward.”

The president will visit law enforcement, first responders and victims’ families on Wednesday, and said in his address that America “comes together as one” following “moments of tragedy and horror.”

“It always has,” said Trump. “We call upon the bonds that unite us, our faith, our family, and our shared values. We call upon the bonds of citizenship, the ties of community and the comfort of our common humanity. Our unity cannot be shattered by evil. Our bonds cannot be broken by violence.”

There is “great anger” felt at such “senseless murder,” said Trump, but even so, it is “our love that defines us today.”

“In times such as these, I know we are searching for some kind of meaning in the chaos, some kind of light in the darkness,” the president said. “The answers do not come easy. But we can take solace knowing that even the darkest space can be brightened by a single light, and even the most terrible despair can be illuminated by a single ray of hope. Melania and I are praying for every American who has been hurt, wounded, or lost the ones they love so dearly in this terrible, terrible attack. We pray for the entire nation to find unity and peace.”

He said they are also praying for the day “when evil is banished and the innocent are safe from hatred and from fear.”

“May God bless the souls of the lives that are lost,” Trump concluded. “May God give us the grace of healing, and may God provide the grieving families with strength to carry on…God bless America.”

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