“The President of the United States is always welcome. I’m a citizen, he’s my president. He is certainly welcome,” said Rabbi Jeffrey Myers.
Trump is also considered a pro-Jewish and pro-Israel president. He finalized moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, a move widely praised by Jews worldwide, and his daughter Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism before her marriage to Jared Kushner.
‘Not a Political Issue’
Responding to the question of who to blame, Myers responded: “I don’t really foist blame upon any person.”“Hate does not know religion, race, creed, political party. It’s not a political issue in any way, shape, or form. Hate does not know any of those things,” Myers added.
Camerota tried pressing Myers, asking, “What lights the match of hate?”
“I think you’re raising one of those great questions that people far smarter than I can answer,” Myers replied. “I do recall this: if we look in the Bible after the story of the flood and Noah, God regretfully says to Noah, ‘I have learned that man from his youth is prone to evil,’ which is, you would think, a horrific thing for God to tell us.”
Near the end of the interview, Myers was asked if Trump would be welcome in Tree of Life, to which Myers said he would be welcome.
Progressive Jewish Group Releases Letter
Myers statements came after a progressive Jewish group called Bend the Arc released a letter claiming the president wasn’t welcome to visit Pittsburgh until he denounced white nationalism. The group has been against Trump since he was elected, asking on its website “How do we stop Trump?” and urging people to get involved with the so-called resistance.“I’ve condemned neo-Nazis, I’ve condemned many different groups,” he added, before noting that not everyone at Charlottesville was a white nationalist. In another statement, he said: “Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.”
While some took issue with him also denouncing violence from far-left groups, the main group of Antifa has become infamous for being violent against not only white supremacists but also regular conservatives, police officers, and journalists. Antifa openly says violence is the only answer to white supremacy.
“Political violence must never ever be allowed in America and I will do everything in my power to stop it,” Trump said.
