Pittsburgh mayor will not meet with Trump at visit after synagogue shooting

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto (D) will reportedly not be appearing with President Trump during his visit to the city on Tuesday in the wake of the shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue over the weekend.

A spokeswoman for the mayor confirmed Peduto’s decision to The Washington Post in a report published on Tuesday morning.

Pedoto had urged the president not to visit Pittsburgh until after the funerals for those who died in the Saturday shooting had concluded, saying that “all attention [Tuesday] should be on the victims.” 

{mosads}”We do not have enough public safety officials to provide enough protection at the funerals and to be able at the same time draw attention to a potential presidential visit,” the Pennsylvania Democrat said, according to local station WPXI.

“If the President is looking to come to Pittsburgh I would ask that he not do so while we are burying the dead,” the mayor added. “I would ask that White House staff contact the families and ask them if they want the President to be here.”

Several top congressional leaders from both parties also reportedly declined an invitation from the White House to join Trump on his visit Tuesday.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) were reportedly unable to make the trip due to scheduling conflicts and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) also decided not to attend.

Trump’s visit to the city has been met with backlash from some in the Jewish community.

A group of progressive Jewish leaders penned an open letter over the weekend telling the Trump he is not welcome in Pittsburgh until he denounces white nationalism. 

Over 57,000 people have also signed onto a petition from the group, the Pittsburgh affiliate of Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice, telling the president he is not welcome in the city.

Pedoto’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.