After a wave of bomb threats against Jewish community centers, known as JCCs, around the country, President Donald Trump on Tuesday said anti-Semitism is "horrible" and "has to stop." The president’s statement comes after accusations that he was not being strong enough in denouncing similar acts across the country.
This Monday, Jewish community centers were left scrambling after receiving phone-in bomb threats.
According to the Jewish Community Center Association of North America, 11 centers in states like New York and Texas received the intimidating calls. They were all determined to be a hoax.
A Jewish cemetery in Missouri was also vandalized last week, prompting a tweet from Hillary Clinton.
JCC threats, cemetery desecration & online attacks are so troubling & they need to be stopped. Everyone must speak out, starting w/ @POTUS.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 21, 2017
On Tuesday, Trump responded.
"The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil," Trump said.
The remarks were made after a tour of the African American History Museum in Washington, D.C. The president was asked if he’s planning to visit the Holocaust Museum.
"I will be doing it soon," he said. "Very important. Very important to me."
The Trump administration has been criticized for days now for not being more vocal against anti-Semitism.
Last week, a Jewish reporter asked Trump about it during a news conference. Trump called the question "insulting."
"I am the least anti-Semitic person that you've ever seen in your entire life," Trump said.
The White House was also heavily criticized last month when it didn’t mention Jews in a statement commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Trump's daughter, Ivanka, and her family are Jewish. She converted in 2009 when she married her husband, one of Trump's closest White House advisers, Jared Kushner.
On Twitter, she expressed her concerns.
"America is a nation built on the principle of religious tolerance. We must protect our houses of worship & religious centers. #JCC"
The FBI is now investigating the threats, which the Jewish Community Center Association of North America says now stand at 70 so far this year.