Trump denounces anti-Semitism
Threats against Jewish centers ‘horrible’
WASHINGTON Touring a new museum devoted to AfricanAmerican history, President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will do what he can to improve race relations and also denounced a series of recent threats and vandalism aimed at Jews.
“The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful, and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil,” Trump said after touring the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
In an earlier interview on MSNBC, Trump said that “antiSemitism is horrible, and it’s going stop and it has to stop.”
Trump had been criticized for passing up previous chances to denounce recent anti-Semitic incidents that range from desecration of a Jewish cemetery to threats against Jewish community centers. Some of the critics noted that Trump’s presidential campaign last year seemed to attract an unusually high number of anti-Semites and white nationalists.
His critics included 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton, who tweeted: “JCC threats, cemetery desecration & online attacks are so troubling & they need to be stopped. Everyone must speak out, starting w/ @POTUS.”
Steven Goldstein, executive director of the Anne Frank Center for Mutual Respect, called Trump’s comments “too little, too late,” and “a pathetic asterisk of condescension” in the face of rising anti-Semitism.
“The White House repeatedly refused to mention Jews in its Holocaust remembrance (statement), and had the audacity to take offense when the world pointed out the ramifications of Holocaust denial,” Goldstein said.
White House spokesman Sean Spicer disputed the center’s assessment, saying Trump is “someone who seeks to unify this country.”
As for race relations in general, Trump told MSNBC that he would seek betterment in a nation that is very divided politically.
In his remarks Tuesday, Trump described the National Museum of African American History and Culture on Tuesday as “a beautiful tribute to so many American heroes.”