Trump ‘not welcome’ as funerals begin

PRESIDENT Donald Trump pushed ahead with a controversial visit to Pittsburgh yesterday as the first victims of Saturday’s shooting were laid to rest.

The massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue in the city’s Squirrel Hill neighbourhood is thought to be the deadliest attack on Jews in US history.

Several members of the Jewish community publicly stated Mr Trump was not welcome, and at least one of the victims’ families declined an invitation to meet the president.

The family of Daniel Stein (71) who was buried yesterday, said they declined an invitation to meet Mr Trump because of his “inappropriate” comments following the mass shooting.

Congressional leaders from both parties, as well as Bill Peduto, the city’s Democratic mayor, declined invitations to join Mr Trump on his visit.

The president and first lady Melania Trump were due in the Pennsylvanian city hours after the first funerals for the 11 victims of the shooting.

The attack has heightened a debate in the US over Mr Trump’s political rhetoric, which critics say has contributed to a rise in right-wing extremism.

Robert Bowers, the suspect in the shooting, frequently posted anti-Semitic material online.

A group of local Jewish leaders released an open letter, signed by more than 43,000 people, to Mr Trump, saying: “You are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism.”

Stephen Halle, the nephew of Mr Stein, said the family declined to meet Mr Trump because of his suggestion that the synagogue should have had an armed guard

“Everybody feels they [the comments] were inappropriate. He was blaming the community,” Mr Halle told ‘The Washington Post’.

However, Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was leading a service at the synagogue when it was attacked, said Mr Trump was welcome to visit.