Donald Trump Condemns 'Distressing and Painful' Threats Against Jewish Centers in America

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, on Tuesday, March 3, made his strongest statement yet regarding the recent wave of threats against Jewish centers across America, strongly condemning anti-Semitism. According to Reuters, the North American Jewish community center reported that several Jewish centers were forced to evacuate their buildings on Monday due to bomb threats. Reports indicate that approximately 170 gravestones were also vandalized in a cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. Trump told reporters, 'The anti-Jewish threats targeting the Jewish community and their centers and institutions are distressing and painful, and a sad reminder that much work remains to be done to eradicate hatred, discrimination, and evil.' He made these remarks at the end of his visit to the National Museum of African American History in Washington, where he also spoke against racism. These statements reflect a change in Trump's tone, as he had refused to explicitly condemn the threats against the Jewish community last week and reacted angrily to reporters who questioned him about it. According to an official from the North American Jewish community center, 11 Jewish centers, including those in Houston, Chicago, and Milwaukee, received bomb threats via phone on Monday, which later turned out to be hoaxes. No one was arrested or injured in this regard. The FBI announced that it would investigate these threats as 'civil rights violations.' Prior to Monday's threats, there had been three other waves of bomb threats this year. The North American Jewish community center reported that there have been 69 bomb threats at 54 Jewish centers in 27 states and one district in Canada so far. According to the Associated Press, all Jewish centers resumed normal activities after the threats on Monday. Before Trump's remarks on Tuesday, the White House had only condemned 'hate and violence motivated by hate' in a statement, without mentioning the threats against Jewish centers and communities. The White House statement noted that President Trump 'has made it clear that these actions are unacceptable.' Jewish groups criticized the White House for issuing a statement for International Holocaust Remembrance Day last month that did not mention Jews.