Donald Trump is visiting Pittsburgh on Tuesday after 11 people were killed during Shabbat services at Tree of Life synagogue on Saturday. NPR reported that the visit coincidences with the first funerals for those killed, and it comes after the mayor and other communities leaders asked Trump not to visit.
Pittsburgh mayor, Bill Peduto, told CNN “I do believe that it would be best to put the attention on families this week and if he were to visit, choose a different time to do it” like after the victims have been put to rest. Both Pennsylvania Senators have confirmed that they will not appear alongside Trump, as have other political public figures like Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Pittsburg Mayor @billpeduto appeals to Pres. Trump to delay visit: “We did try to get the message out to the White House…I do believe it would be best to put the attention on the families this week and if [Trump] were to visit, to choose a different time to be able to do it.” pic.twitter.com/mN9fkeBU9C
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) October 30, 2018
A White House official said that Trump could not have visited the city later in the week because of his rally schedule leading up to the election next week. Trump has been insisting on making time to visit Pittsburgh since the tragedy occurred on Saturday, according to CNN.
Community leaders have been speaking out ever since Trump’s plans to visit were released. Progressive group Bend the Arc said that the president would not be welcomed into Pittsburgh until he fully denounced white nationalism. Rabbi Jeffery Myers, who led the Saturday services that were attacked, told CNN’s New Day that “I’m a citizen. He’s my President. He is certainly welcome.”
Following the shooting on Saturday, Trump insisted that the synagogue needed armed security. He responded to questions about gun laws by saying, “If they had some kind of protection inside the temple, maybe it could have been a very much different situation,” according to Vox.