Trump vows 'We will confront anti-Semitism' at Holocaust memorial ceremony
His comments follow threats against Jewish centers during his term.
— -- President Trump today vowed to crack down on anti-Semitism during a speech on Capitol Hill as part of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s National Days of Remembrance.
"This is my pledge to you: We will confront anti-Semitism,” he said. “We will stamp out prejudice. We will condemn hatred. We will bear witness, and we will act.”
Trump's strongly worded speech comes nearly two months after a series of threats against Jewish community centers across the country and questions about rising anti-Semitism during the course of the election season and the new administration.
When previously asked about the issue, he has pointed to his personal ties to Judaism — through his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, who practices Orthodox Judaism, and his daughter Ivanka Trump, who converted before her marriage to Kushner. Donald Trump did not mention either of them during his speech this morning.
He told the story of Holocaust survivor and political activist Elie Wiesel, who died last year, and slammed Holocaust deniers.
"Those who deny the Holocaust are an accomplice to this horrible evil, and we will never be silent. We just won't. We will never, ever be silent in the face of evil again," Trump said.
"Denying the Holocaust is only one of many forms of dangerous anti-Semitism that continues around the world," he said.
He reiterated his support for Israel, which was on display in February when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the White House.
"The state of Israel is an eternal monument to the undying strength of the Jewish people," Trump said.
He later said, "I will always stand with our great friend and partner the state of Israel."