White House to TheBlaze: 'No Scheduling Changes…at This Time' as Obama Heads to NYC for Fundraisers After Crash

President Barack Obama is scheduled to attend two Democratic fundraisers in New York City Thursday evening.

AP

The political activity apparently is not ceasing despite the Malaysian jet that was downed earlier Thursday over Ukraine killing 295 people. A Ukrainian government official has alleged the plane was shot down.

The fundraisers were scheduled more than a week ago.

According to the White House schedule, Obama will attend a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at a private home in New York at 5:45 p.m. Then at 7:30 p.m., the president will attend a fundraiser at another private home to raise money for the House Majority PAC, which supports House Democratic candidates.

At 2:25 p.m., the White House press office e-mailed a response to an inquiry from TheBlaze, "No scheduling changes to be reported at this time."

Fox News reported there might have been 23 Americans aboard the plane.

"It looks like it may be a terrible tragedy," Obama said during remarks at an event in Wilmington, Delaware Thursday afternoon.

“Right now we are working to determine whether there were American citizens on board as our first priority and I've directed my national security team to keep in close contact with the Ukrainian government,” Obama continued. “The United States will offer any assistance we can to help determine what happened and why and as a country, our thoughts and prayers are with all the families of the passengers wherever they call home.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly called Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak

to express “deep condolences” over the crash.

Obama talked to Putin Thursday morning, and the two talked about the economic sanctions imposed on Russia regarding Russian separatist in Ukraine. The White House readout did not mention whether the two leaders spoke about the plane crash and White House press secretary Josh Earnest did not have details as to whether the call occurred before or after the jet went down.

–

Follow Fred Lucas (@FredVLucas3) on Twitter