President Barack Obama met Thursday with the family of Steven Sotloff, the American journalist beheaded by the Islamic State in September.
Obama met with the Sotloff's parents, Art and Shirley Sotloff and sister Lauren while he was in Miami for a briefing on hurricane preparedness.
American journalist Steven Sotloff, center with black helmet, talks to Libyan rebels on the Al Dafniya front line, June 2, 2011 in Misrata, Libya. (Photo: Handout/Getty Images)
"The Sotloffs live in Florida, so this was an appropriate occasion for the President to visit with them,"
National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said in a statement. "The president expressed his and the first lady’s condolences for Steven’s death."
"He appreciated the chance to hear from the Sotloffs more about Steven’s work as a journalist, including his passion for bringing the stories of people who are suffering to the rest of the world in the hope of making a positive difference, including in Syria," Meehan said. "The President also recognized the family’s “2Lives: Steven Joel Sotloff Memorial Foundation”, which was created to provide support and assistance to journalists reporting from conflict torn areas of the world."
