In a statement, President Obama, who was briefed on the deadly shooting inside a popular Orlando gay club that left at least 50 people dead and 53 wounded, early Sunday morning, said his "thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the victims."
Vice President Biden called the attack "heinous" and also offered his "prayers for all those killed and injured in the shooting" and said he "sends his condolences to all the families and loved ones of the victims."
Democratic presumptive 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton tweeted that she "woke up to hear the devastating news from FL."
"As we wait for more information, my thoughts are with those affected by this horrific act," Clinton tweeted, before repeating the message in Spanish.
Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, however, merely tweeted what he heard on the news.
"Really bad shooting in Orlando," Trump posted. "Police investigating possible terrorism. Many people dead and wounded," he added.
He returned to Twitter to launch an attack on Clinton about a campaign ad she released an hour later, before tweeting again in the afternoon thanking his supporters for their praise of his criticism of Obama over not using the term "radical Islamic terrorism."
Orlando gay club gunman identified as Omar Mateen
"Horrific incident in FL. Praying for all the victims & their families. When will this stop? When will we get tough, smart & vigilant?" Trump tweeted.
"Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!" he added.
Trump's social media director, meanwhile, tweeted that things "will only get worse in America, when our POTUS can't say, or recognize those 3 very words — RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM."
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), one of Trump's lead surrogates, warned on "Fox News Sunday" that "more of these attacks are coming."
"There's just within the wonderful group of Islamic people, a certain group of radicals and it's been there for a long time and it seems to be growing and we have to accept that fact," Sessions said.
"More of these attacks are coming. It's a real part of the threat that we face and if we can't address it openly and directly, and say directly that there is an extremist element within Islam, that's dangerous to the world and has to be confronted," he added.
Texas Lt. Gov. ripped for ill-timed tweet after mass shooting
The attack, which occurred inside the Pulse nightclub, was the deadliest mass shooting in American history. The shooting was "well organized and well prepared," local cops said, as FBI officials painted the attack as domestic terror.
The shooter, who was identified as Omar Mateen, may have had "leanings" toward radical Islam, Special Agent Danny Banks revealed at a press conference Sunday morning.
Not long after reports of the shooting began emerging, Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick tweeted: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows."
The 66-year-old Republican's comments were quotes from the Bible, specifically Galatians 6:7.
Patrick apologized later Sunday for tweet, saying he "regrets the unfortunate timing."
Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press," called the attacks "horrific" and "unthinkable" and pointed to the need to tighten lax gun control laws.
"I believe that in this country, we should not be selling automatic weapons which are designed to kill people," he said. "We have got to do everything that we can on top of that to make sure that guns do not fall into the hands of people who should not have them, criminals, people who are mentally ill. So that struggles continues."
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) tweeted that "we pray for those brutally attacked in Orlando."
"While we must learn more about the attacker, the victims & families will not be forgotten," Ryan added.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a statement that “the nation’s prayers are with the victims and their families in the wave of this terrible tragedy.”
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Sen.) tweeted that "Our prayers are with those injured and killed early this morning in horrifying act of terror in Orlando."
Florida Gov. Rick Scott tweeted "my prayers are with the victims' families & all those affected by the shooting in Orlando. We will devote every resource available to assist."
New York lawmakers also weighed in.
"Horrified and saddened by the appalling attack at Orlando LGBT nightclub. Praying for the victims and their families," Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted.
"Saddened to hear of the senseless mass shooting in Orlando. My thoughts are with the victims, the injured and their loved ones," Gov. Cuomo tweeted.
Rep. Peter King (R-L.I.), the chairman of the House subcommittee on counterterrorism and intelligence, urged authorities to focus their investigation on terrorism.
"That always has to be, right now, the first consideration; that doesn't mean that's what it is. But I thought it was significant [THE FBI] said that, because generally they wouldn't say unless there was some indication that there was some, you know, leaning toward Islamist terrorism," King said on ABC's "This Week."
Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) spoke to the need to focus both on cracking down on terrorism and on tightening gun laws.
“A lot of us have been talking for quite a while in terms of background checks and tightening background checks, particularly as it pertains to those with mental illness. And I think that that debate can and should go on as well as the debate on how to best protect us against those who were inspired or funded or directed by international terrorists,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.
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