President Joe Biden did not visit the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, following the 2018 massacre despite saying that he did so, the White House said Friday.
During a video call with rabbis before Rosh Hashanah on Thursday, Biden appeared to imply he visited the synagogue complex sometime after the massacre that resulted in 11 deaths.
“And [hate has] been given too much oxygen in the last four, five, seven, 10 years, and it has seen itself, whether it was — I remember spending time at the — you know, going to the — you know, the Tree of Life synagogue, speaking with the — just — it just is amazing these things are happening, happening in America,” Biden said.
In response to press inquiries regarding the president's statement, White House officials said Friday that Biden "was referring to a call he had with the Tree of Life rabbi in 2019," according to the New York Post.
At one point during the Thursday call, Biden struggled to remember the name of the song "Hava Nagila" while referencing his daughter's wedding to a Jewish man.
“My mind is going blank now, what’s the song that is played where everybody is on the chair? I can’t remember it," Biden said. (Nothing New)
The congregation's rabbi, Hazzan Jeffrey Myers, signaled there was no disrespect felt from the president's comments on Thursday, according to the White House statement. “President Biden kindly called me on my cell phone as I was sitting in Dulles Airport awaiting a return flight to Pittsburgh after I testified before Congress in July 2019,” Myers said.
“In a heartfelt way, he extended his condolences and asked how we were doing. We spoke about the challenges of antisemitism, and he made clear he would confront it with us as president. The conversation meant a great deal to me, and I will always be grateful for his kind words and continued support of our community," Myers added.
The massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue is believed to be the most severe anti-Jewish hate crime in United States history, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
Former President Donald Trump went to the synagogue three days following the shooting and was accompanied by several Jewish members of his administration, including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
The Washington Examiner contacted the White House but did not immediately receive a response.
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