Sean Spicer: 'I wish the Anne Frank Center had praised Donald Trump for fighting anti-Semitism'
The Press Secretary insisted that the President 'strongly denunciated' racism
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The White House Press Secretary has attacked the Anne Frank Center for its negative statement about President Donald Trump’s disavowal of anti-Semitism.
Asked about the Center’s statement, Sean Spicer told reporters that the President "has been very forceful with the denunciation" of people who are racist or sexist.
"The President has made clear since the day he was elected and frankly through the campaign that he seeks to unite the country. He has brought a diverse range of people into this administration," he said.
"It's ironic that no matter how many times he talks about this, it's never good enough."
He added: "I wish that they [the Anne Frank Centre] had praised the President for his leadership in this area. And I think hopefully as time continues to go by, they will recognise his commitment to civil rights, to voting rights, to equality for all Americans."
Mr Trump finally spoke against anti-Semitism after a visit to the National Museum of African American History on Tuesday, saying racism was "horrible" and "must stop".
The President's words came after four separate waves of bomb threats were received by more than 50 Jewish community centers since the New Year and a Jewish cemetery was vandalised in Missouri.
The Anne Frank Center said in a statement that the President's remarks were a "Band-Aid on the cancer of anti-Semitism that has affected his own administration".
The President was criticised for omitting the Jewish people in his statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
At his first press conference since his Inauguration last week he told a Jewish reporter to sit down and accused him of lying after the was asked about the anti-Semitic bomb threats.
His daughter, Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism for her husband Jared Kushner, tweeted to ask American people to show "tolerance".
Mr Spicer insisted that the President will focus on uniting the country. He then made what appeared to be a Freudian slip.
"It [anti-Semitism] is something he [Mr Trump] will continue to fight and will make very, very clear that he has no place in this administration," said Mr Spicer.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments