Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of the Pittsburgh synagogue targeted in an anti-Semitic attack that left 11 people dead told CNN Thursday morning that he was “pleasantly surprised” by President Trump’s visit Tuesday because he was able to witness the “warm and personal side” of the president that the rest of America often misses out on.

“The president was very warm, very consoling,” Rabbi Myers told “New Day” anchor Alisyn Camerota.

“He put his hand on my shoulder and the first question he asked me was, ‘rabbi, tell me how are you doing?’ And I must say, throughout the time we spent together, I was pleasantly surprised by a warm and personal side to the president that I don’t think America has ever seen,” he said.

Suspected gunman Robert Bowers, a reported vocal anti-Semite, killed 11 people at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood Saturday. He pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges that could put him on death row.

Some local leaders and residents voiced concerns that Mr. Trump’s visit would distract from the victims. The president said he and first lady Melania Trump were “treated very nicely” despite news reports that thousands gathered in Squirrel Hill to protest him.

Mr. Myers said he shared his personal story of the shooting with the Trumps, “which they found quite shocking and upsetting.”

“We talked,” he told Ms. Camerota. “I shared the same message that I’ve shared with you throughout the course of the week, that hate speech has no place in our society. That hate speech leads to actions of hate. Hate speech led to the death of seven of my congregants and eleven total in my building. And we shared more other personal conversation that I respectfully would like to keep personal.”

Mr. Myers told the CNN host earlier this week that the president is “always” welcome at his synagogue, despite its former president, Lynnette Lederman, saying the opposite.

Mr. Myers said he has received hateful messages since his decision to welcome the president.

Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers on President Trump’s Pittsburgh visit: “I was pleasantly surprised by a warm and personal side to the President that I don’t think America has ever seen” pic.twitter.com/Jzpk3J1KBS — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) November 1, 2018

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