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By Sky News US Team
US President Barack Obama is heading to Orlando to provide comfort to the victims of Sunday's mass shooting at a gay nightclub.
Not for the first time in his presidency, he will visit the scene of a gun massacre to offer solace to a grieving community and nation.
Vice President Joe Biden will join Mr Obama in the central Florida city where families of the 49 victims are preparing to bury their loved ones.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Mr Obama planned to speak publicly to make clear "the country stands with the people of Orlando, stands with the LGBT community in Orlando".
As in previous tragedies, Mr Obama plans to meet with the families and emergency workers who came to the victims' aid at the Pulse nightspot.
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The visit will take place amid a bitter political feud in Washington DC over gun control and terrorism in the aftermath of the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.
Unexpectedly, Republican White House candidate Donald Trump said he planned to meet with America's pro-gun lobby about firearms control.
Mr Trump said he would discuss with the National Rifle Association "not allowing people on the terrorist watch list, or the no-fly list, to buy guns".
In Congress, Democratic Senator Chris Murphy ended a filibuster after nearly 15 hours on Thursday to try to force a vote on gun control.
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Senator Murphy and other Democrats are pushing for a similar measure to the one spoken of by Mr Trump.
It has emerged that the gunman called a local TV station to tell them about the massacre.
Authorities say the attack was carried out with legally purchased weapons by a 29-year-old Muslim of Afghan origin.
Investigators say New York-born Omar Mateen had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State after following extremist propaganda online.
