Donald Trump, Republicans and Democrats have condemned antisemitism in the shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington DC on Wednesday night.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!” Trump wrote on social media in response to the shooting. “Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!”
The alleged shooter yelled “Free, free Palestine” after he was arrested, according to police.
Named as Elias Rodriguez, 30, of Chicago, the alleged gunman approached a group of four people departing an event outside the museum and opened fire, killing Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, then walked inside the building, where he was detained by security.
“Absolutely nothing justifies the murder of innocents. I am devastated by the killing of two people outside an @AJCGlobal event here in Washington. Our prayers are with the victims, families, and loved ones of all impacted,” congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said in a social media post. “As we await more details, we must be clear that hatred has no home here. Antisemitism is a threat to all we hold dear as a society. It must be confronted and rooted out everywhere.”
The two embassy staffers killed were a couple. According to the Israeli ambassador Yechiel Leiter, Lischinsky was planning on proposing to Milgrim.
“Heartbroken by the horrific murder of Israeli Embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim in DC,” said Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, in a social media post. “A young couple, full of promise, targeted and killed outside a Jewish museum. This act of terrorism and vile antisemitism must be condemned without hesitation. We mourn – we demand justice.”
Senator Cory Booker, a Democrat representing New Jersey, said in response to the shooting that “we must all do more to push back against the scourge of antisemitism. May their memories be a blessing.”
