In a rare Oval Office address, President Barack Obama on Sunday will urge Americans to not give into fear following attacks in Paris and California, while trying to assure the public that he takes the threat of terrorism seriously.
It comes in the wake of last week's deadly shooting in San Bernardino, California, which left 14 dead and 21 wounded. Federal authorities are investigating the attack as an act of terrorism, and ISIS has said the husband and wife held responsible were followers of the group.
Administration officials said the president's remarks would focus on how the terrorist threat has evolved and what steps the government is taking to keep Americans safe.
Obama is not expected to announce major policy changes for targeting the Islamic State group, but will likely urge Congress to review certain gun control measures, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said in an interview Sunday morning with NBC's "Meet the Press."
"Dealing with guns is one way to handle the violent crime issues that we have in this country," Lynch said.
She said Obama may ask Congress to "to review measures and take action" to safeguard national security, though she did not offer specifics. She suggested he might reiterate his call for stricter gun laws.
"I think what you're going to hear from him is a discussion about what government is doing to ensure all of our highest priority — the protection of the American people," Lynch said. "This horrific attack has people on edge and frightened. We've lost so many victims and people were wounded. People are concerned and we understand that."
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With the primetime address, Obama is turning to a tool of the presidency that he has used infrequently. He's made televised statements from the Oval Office just twice, the last in 2010.
His speech comes amid criticism that he has underestimated the threat from an extremist group that claimed responsibility for last month's deadly attacks in Paris.
ISIS has not claimed the San Bernardino massacre but said the assault was perpetrated by followers of the group.
The FBI is investigating the massacre as a terrorist attack that, if proved, would be the deadliest by Islamic extremists on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001.
FBI Director James Comey has said there was no indication yet that the plot was directed by any other foreign terrorist group, though he would not rule out that future possibility.
Obama is expected to speak at 8 p.m.
