Republican and Democratic leaders in Congress reportedly declined invitations to appear with President Trump when he travels to Pittsburgh later Tuesday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., were invited to join Trump in Pennsylvania but declined, congressional sources told CNN.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., both had scheduling conflicts and could not attend.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit a hospital and pay their respects to the 11 victims of Saturday’s shooting at Tree of Life synagogue. The president’s daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, who are both Jewish, will accompany the first couple on the trip.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, a Democrat, urged Trump to postpone his trip until after funerals have taken place, saying the focus should be on the families affected by the massacre.
“I do believe that it would be best to put the attention on the families this week, and if he were to visit, choose a different time to be able to do it,” Peduto said. “Our focus as a city will be on the families and the outreach they’ll need this week and the support they’ll need to get through it.”