Blames media for divisiveness and suggests armed guards could have stopped Pittsburgh synagogue massacre

Hours after a gunman killed 11 worshippers at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history, Trump suggested the massacre could have been prevented if the synagogue had armed guards. "If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better," he said, turning the tragedy into an argument for more guns in places of worship. He also blamed the media for creating divisiveness in society, saying "the media has a responsibility to set a civilized tone" - deflecting from his own role in stoking hatred. The shooter, Robert Bowers, had posted antisemitic conspiracy theories online that echoed Trump's rhetoric about migrant caravans being "invasions" funded by Jewish billionaire George Soros. Jewish leaders and Pittsburgh officials criticized Trump's response as tone-deaf and his proposed visit to Pittsburgh as unwelcome given his history of antisemitic dog whistles.

"If they had protection inside, the results would have been far better." — October 27, 2018 remarks to press after Pittsburgh synagogue shooting that killed 11