'Things can happen.' Trump responds to Brown University shooting.

President Donald Trump responded to the mass 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.

The attack 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 later released 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. 14 at 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."

Shots fired at Brown University: Photos show the scene

Police responded to reports of an active shooter on Brown University’s campus in Providence, Rhode Island on Dec. 13, 2025

Police responded to an active shooter in the engineering building on Brown University’s campus on Dec. 13, 2025

Providence Police confirmed multiple people have been shot after an active shooter was reported at Brown University.

Police responded to an active shooter in the engineering building on Brown University’s campus on Dec. 13, 2025

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.

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 Syria killed 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 killed and many more injured during a shooting that targeted a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Sydney.

President Donald J. Trump stands on the field during the first half of the 126th Army-Navy game at M&T Bank Stadium.

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."