Donald Trump has paid tribute to people who “have devoted their lives to the preservation and security of the Jewish people” in a statement marking Holocaust Memorial Day.

The US president said to remember those who were murdered and survived the Holocaust was to strive to prevent such suffering from happening again, adding: “We remain committed to the post-Holocaust imperative, ‘Never Again’.”

His statement said: “We hold in our hearts the memory of every man, woman, and child who was abused, tortured, or murdered during the Holocaust.

“To remember these men and women – those who perished and those who survived – is to strive to prevent such suffering from happening again. Any denial or indifference to the horror of this chapter in the history of humankind diminishes all men and women everywhere and invites repetition of this great evil.

“‘Never Again’ means not only remembering – in a profound and lasting way – the evils of the Holocaust, but it also means remembering the individual men and women in this Nation, and throughout the world, who have devoted their lives to the preservation and security of the Jewish people and to the betterment of all mankind.”

The president said in his statement: “The Third Reich, and its collaborators, pursued the complete elimination of the entire Jewish people. Six million Jews were systematically slaughtered in horrific ways.

“The Nazis also enslaved and murdered Slavs, Roma, gays, people with disabilities, religious leaders, and others who courageously opposed their cruel regime. The brutality of the Holocaust was a crime against men, women, and children. It was a crime against humanity. It was a crime against God.”

Tweeting his statement, he also posted a photo of himself and his wife Melania at a Holocaust remembrance service which appears to have been taken from a Holocaust memorial service the Trumps attended in 2017 and has drawn criticism online.

Other world leaders also attended ceremonies remembering the victims.

In Britain, leaders across the political spectrum paid tributes, with Theresa May sharing on Twitter a hand-written message in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s book of commitment.

Jeremy Corbyn whose Labour party has been dogged by claims of antisemitism, quoted a message by Kindertransport refugee Lord Dubs: “It’s important that we say resolutely: it must never be allowed to happen again.”

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