With the first funerals set for Tuesday, the White House announced that President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit the same day to “express the support of the American people and to grieve with the Pittsburgh community” over the 11 congregants killed Saturday in the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.
Other victims’ funerals have been scheduled through Friday in a week of mourning, anguish and questions about the deadliest attack on Jews in U.S. history.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said that the Trumps would “express the support of the American people and grieve with the Pittsburgh community” during their trip.
In heated exchanges with reporters, Sanders then pushed back on the argument the president’s rhetoric could have influenced the synagogue shooter, as well as the person who sent numerous pipe bombs in the mail to prominent Democratic figures. She called the suggestion “outrageous.”
“The president is not responsible for these acts,” Sanders said. “Again, the very first action of the president did was condemn these heinous acts. The very first thing the media did was condemn the president and go after and try to place blame not just on the president but everybody that works in this administration.”
Sanders was also asked about comments from Jewish leaders in the Pittsburgh area who have said the president should not visit the city unless and until he denounces white nationalists.
“The president has denounced racism, hatred and bigotry in all forms on a number of occasions,” Sanders replied. “We’ll continue to do that. I’m doing it here today.”
She said the synagogue’s rabbi has said the president is welcome to visit Pittsburgh in the aftermath of the attack.
“The president of the United States is always welcome,” Rabbi Jeffrey Myers told CNN. “I’m a citizen. He’s my president. He is certainly welcome.”
The president condemned the shooting, saying that the alleged perpetrator should “pay the highest price” for what he called “an assault on humanity.”
“This was an anti-Semitic attack at its worst,” Trump said. “The scourge of anti-Semitism cannot be ignored, cannot be tolerated, and it cannot be allowed to continue … It must be confronted and condemned everywhere it rears its very ugly head.”
