After returning from five days in Asia, President Joe Biden was ready to address the nation Tuesday night. His trip had been marred by "horrific mass tragedy".

Biden was aboard Air Force One Tuesday afternoon, when officials reported that a gunman had killed 18 students and three adults in Texas at an elementary school. Two days earlier, the president left for Asia to meet with victims' families following the murder of 10 Black men at a Buffalo grocery store. These tragedies were a stark reminder of the American epidemic of mass shooting violence.

Biden arrived at the White House looking somber and said he would soon talk to the American people regarding the shooting. In honor of the victims, he directed that American flags should be flown at half-staff from sunset Saturday.

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, stated that people usually say in moments like these, "our hearts fail -- but our hearts continue to get broken...and our broken hearts are nothing when compared with the broken hearts and families."

She stated, "We must have the courage and will to act... to make sure that something like this does not happen again."

Jill Biden, First Lady, is a teacher and tweeted: "Lord enough. The teacher and the little children. Stunned. Angry. Heartbroken."

Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, stated that Biden was briefed by Jen O'Malley Dillon, deputy chief of staff and other senior members of Air Force One's senior team about the shooting.

Biden met with Texas Governor shortly before landing in Washington. Greg Abbott was able to tweet from his presidential plane, "to offer any assistance he requires in the aftermath of the horrific shooting at Uvalde in Texas," White House communications director Kate Bedingfield wrote.