House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer all declined official White House invitations to accompany the president and First Lady Melania Trump during their trip to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, the Washington Post reported, citing three officials familiar with the invitations.
Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto was also invited but won’t be appearing with Trump, the report added. The city’s Democratic mayor urged Trump to not visit Pittsburgh until after the funerals for victims have concluded, saying all attention should be on the victims.
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In addition, Peduto noted that his city doesn’t have enough public safety officials to protect the funerals and at the same time host a presidential visit.
The president is not expected to speak in Pittsburgh, according to a White House official.
Earlier, Trump has condemned the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, saying there would be no tolerance for anti-Semitism following the attack on Saturday.
On Monday, US Attorney Scott Brady announced that the first hearing for Robert Bowers, a gunman who opened fire inside a synagogue in Pittsburgh last week, killing 11 people and injuring six others, including police officers, according to US authorities, has been set for November 1.
The suspect, identified as Robert Bowers, was reportedly shouting anti-Semitic slogans during the shooting. He surrendered to police and was arrested.
