First Family Visits Synagogue After Shooting

UNITED STATES—President Trump and First Lady, Melania Trump, flew into Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Airforce One following the shooting that took place at The Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27. Funeral services transpired last week and ran through Friday, November 2.

Crowds of protesters flooded the streets yelling, “President Hate Leave Our State” and “Go Home.”

“If the President is looking to come to Pittsburgh, I would ask that he not do so while we are burying our dead. The city does not have enough safety officials to provide enough protection at the funerals and to be able at the same time, to draw attention away to a potential Presidential visit,” said Mayor of Pittsburgh, William Peduto via Fox News.

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers, who was officiating services the day of the shooting, accompanied the President and First Lady, as they went inside the vestibule to light a candle for each life lost and show their respect for the lives lost. At the memorial where white stars were posted for each victim.

President Trump placed a small stone at the memorial for each of the 11 individuals killed as part of a Jewish burial tradition, while the First Lady placed a flower beside it. Ivanka Trump and her husband,  Jared Kushner, the US Treasury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, and White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly were in attendance.

“The President of the United States is always welcome,” said Rabbi Myers, who was at the synagogue at the time of the shooting.

The First Family visited those wounded in the shooting and the staff at Pittsburgh Medical Center. A video posted by Fox News shows the President and First Lady shaking hands and thanking the medical staff. “Thank you, President Trump. Thank you First Lady. We love you. Thank you Ivanka and Jared,” staff could be heard yelling in the background.

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