President Trump visited Pittsburgh in the wake of the horrific antisemitic shooting which claimed the lives of 11 people.
Though his visit was uncharacteristically low-key, it went against requests from the city's mayor, near-universal objections from the mourning families and statements from the city’s Jewish community.
Trump has been accused of pandering to antisemitic conspiracy theories since he took office and once described violent white supremacist protesters as "very fine people". The synagogue was allegedly targeted because of its support for refugees, a stance that Trump is not associated with.
Lynette Lederman, a former president of the synagogue, told cable news that Trump is not welcome. In an open letter to Trump, Pittsburgh's Jewish leaders asked Trump to stay out of the city until he denounces white nationalism.
Lynnette Lederman, former President of Pittsburgh's Tree of Life Synagogue, says of Trump, "I do not welcome this P… https://t.co/33ADyElVaR— New Day (@New Day) 1540813688
Howard Fineman, a reporter and Pittsburgh native, reports that the White House tried to "push Trump into hospital rooms of victims”, who allegedly turned down the opportunity to meet with him.
Rabbi Chuck Diamond, who served as a rabbi at Tree of Life synagogue for seven years, makes a plea to Trump on visi… https://t.co/c8WQ7SbcDj— Kyle Griffin (@Kyle Griffin) 1540897200
I’ve been in Pittsburgh reporting for the last few hours and the sense of overwhelmingly grief is palpable here. Se… https://t.co/H7mv8Ik6AM— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche Alcindor) 1540922532
To mark the visit, hundreds Jews and allies protested to make sure that Trump knows exactly what the community thinks of him and ensure that his trip didn't’t become an empty photo-op.
Large group gathered for @IfNotNowPGH protest as Trump prepares to arrive in Squirrel Hill. “He’s fostered an admi… https://t.co/2vhpcVWSns— julia reinstein 🚡 (@julia reinstein 🚡) 1540925940
As President Trump arrives in Pittsburgh, hundreds of residents gather in Squirrel Hill for a protest telling him h… https://t.co/PhVpBi8ccT— Clint Hendler (@Clint Hendler) 1540930255
H/T: Someecards
More: Jewish groups tell Trump he is 'not welcome' in Pittsburgh while he continues to target minorities
