The city of Pittsburgh was grief-stricken and uneasy early Tuesday as the first three funerals of those killed in the antisemitic massacre on Saturday were due to be held, while residents and city leaders are divided over Donald Trump’s planned visit this afternoon.
The mayor of Pittsburgh, Bill Peduto, asked the president not to come.
Ignoring the mayor’s pleas, Trump intends to travel Tuesday to the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, where 11 people were shot to death at the Tree of Life synagogue. He’ll be joined by his wife Melania – and his daughter and son-in-law, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, who are practising Orthodox Jews.
Peduto on Monday asked Trump to delay visiting until the slain residents have been buried, saying his presence would strain security resources.
“We did try to get the message out to the White House that our priority tomorrow is the first funeral,” Peduto said Monday night on CNN.
“I do believe that it would be best to put the attention on the families this week, and if he were to visit, choose a different time to be able to do it,” he said. “Our focus as a city will be on the families and the outreach that they’ll need this week and the support that they’ll need to get through it.”
Trump is expected to meet with first responders and community leaders. It was not immediately clear whether Trump and his family would meet with any bereaved family members.
“Well, I’m just going to pay my respects,” Trump told Fox News on Monday night. “I’m also going to the hospital to see the officers and some of the people that were so badly hurt.”
Victims in the tragedy included a 97-year-old woman, two brothers with special needs, a husband and wife, and a beloved family doctor.
For more read the full of article at The Guardian
