Foreign

Trump blames media for ‘division and hatred’ in US

Published

2 years ago

October 29, 2018

US President Donald Trump blamed the media once again on Monday for “ division and hatred ” in the country as Americans took stock of a gunman ’ s attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue that killed 11 worshippers .
“ The Fake News is doing everything in their power to blame Republicans , Conservatives and me for the division and hatred that has been going on for so long in our Country , ” he said on Twitter .

“ There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate , and even fraudulent , reporting of the news , ” Trump continued . “ The Fake News Media , the true Enemy of the People , must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly .

“ That will do much to put out the flame of Anger and Outrage and we will then be able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony . Fake News Must End !”

Trump had initially called for unity in the face of Saturday ’ s assault on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh , in a week in which prominent Democrats were the targets of pipe bombs sent through the mail , allegedly by a Trump supporter in Florida.

But he quickly reverted to form , attacking the media and potential Democratic rivals for the presidency at a rally and on Twitter as Americans looked forward to crucial midterm elections November 6 .

In an open letter on Sunday , a group of Jewish leaders from Pittsburgh said Trump bore responsibility for encouraging white nationalist sentiments that led to the synagogue attack .

“ For the past three years , your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement . You yourself called the murderer evil , but yesterday ’ s violence is the direct culmination of your influence , ” the open letter said .

The signers said that until Trump fully denounced white nationalism he would not be welcomed in Pittsburgh.

However , Jeffrey Myers , a Tree of Life rabbi who was in the synagogue when the heavily armed gunman burst in on worshippers , said Trump would be welcome if he visited .

“ The president of the United States is always welcome . I ’ m a citizen. He ’ s my president . He is certainly welcome , ” Myers said on CNN .

( AFP )