U.S. President Barack Obama visited Orlando Thursday to meet with survivors and family members affected by the worst mass shooting in American history. Obama met privately with relatives at Amway Center, a stadium not far from the gay nightclub where a lone gunman opened fire early Sunday, killing 49 people and injuring 53 others. Vice President Joe Biden also traveled to Orlando. In remarks after the meetings, Obama said the families are feeling “grief beyond description.” “Today the Vice President and I told them on behalf of the American people, that our hearts are broken, too, and that we stand with you and that we are here for you.” Obama said it was difficult for him to console family members after a violent tragedy. “So 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?’ And they pleaded that we do more to stop the carnage. They don’t care about the politics, neither do I.”