Gunshots rang out as the final days of Passover brought a congregation together in Poway, California this week. According to Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, President Donald Trump spoke to him about what he is doing to stop violence against Jews, which has increased for four years in a row, according to FBI statistics.
The recent mass shooting marks the second synagogue shooting since Trump said that there were "very fine people on both sides" of the Charlottesville riots.
"I asked him, 'Mr. President, what are you doing about anti-Semitism in the United States of America?'" Rabbi Goldstein recalled to MSNBC's Kasie Hunt. "And he was very generous in explaining that he has made it as a priority. He said, 'Listen, I have a son-in-law who’s Jewish, a daughter that’s Jewish, I have grandchildren that are Jewish. I love Israel; we’re going to do whatever we can to protect the Jewish people of the United States of America and abroad.' It was the highlight of the day after everything I’ve been through to hear from the president himself to be so comforting and consoling."
He noted that Trump was receptive to having a moment of silence for prayer in public schools.
According to George Selim of the Anti-Defamation League, 2017 "saw nearly a 57 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents across the country. This is the first time we ever saw an anti-Semitic incident in all 50 states."
It marked the most significant spike the ADL has seen in 40 years since they've been tracking anti-Semitic incidents.
In a later segment, Hunt noted that Trump works to convince people in person that he's on their side, but when he's in public and at rallies, he pivots in another direction entirely.
It's unclear what Trump intends to do top stop anti-Semitic incidents in America. The Department of Homeland Security disbanded a branch in the intelligence arm that focused on threats from domestic terrorism. This group analyzed intelligence and shared it with state and local media officials so they could help prepare and adequately protect their communities. Trump gave no reason for getting rid of the program.
Watch the interview below: