Donald Trump pledged to confront anti-Semitism during remarks he gave at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s National Days of Remembrance Tuesday.
“It’s an honor to join you on this very, very solemn occasion,” the president said. “I am deeply moved to stand before those who survived history’s darkest hour. Your presence transforms this place into a sacred gathering.”
“To those in the audience that have served America in uniform, our country eternally thanks you. We are proud to be joined by veterans of the second World War. Your sacrifice helped save freedom for the world — for the entire world.”
(Photo: MSNBC screen grab)
“This year marks first day of remembrance since the passing of Elie Wiesel,” who he then described as “someone who had heart of an angel but lived through hell.”
“Though his story is known by many people, it’s worth repeating,” he said.
“You saw mothers and children led to mass slaughter. You saw the starvation and the torture. You saw the attempt of the extermination of an entire people — and great people I must add. You survived the ghettos, the concentration camps, the death camps, and you persevered to tell your stories. Despite your pain, you believe in Elie’s plea that for the dead and the living, we must remember and bear witness. Six million Jews. Two out of three Jews in Europe were murdered. Millions more of innocent people were imprisoned and executed by Nazis.”
“We will never ever be silent in the face of evil again,” he continued. “Denying the Holocaust is only one of many forms of dangerous anti-Semitism that continues throughout the world. We’ve seen it on campuses, throughout the public square, and it’s been on display in the most sinister manner when aggressors attack Jewish communities.”
“My pledge to you — we will confront anti-Semitism. As president of the United States, I will always stand with Jewish people.”
“We must never, ever shrink away from telling the truth about evil in our time. Evil is always seeking to wage war about the innocent and to destroy all that is good and beautiful about our common humanity, but evil can only thrive in darkness.”
“We stand in awe of the unbreakable spirit of the Jewish people.”