Tree of Life Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said Thursday he was “pleasantly surprised” to discover a “warm and personal side” to U.S. President Donald Trump when he visited the Pittsburgh synagogue this week following the deadly shootings there over the weekend.

Myers’ comments about Trump, who has been criticized for a lack of empathy in responding to national tragedies, came during a CNN interview in which he recounted a visit Tuesday that also included first lady Melania Trump, as well as Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, the president’s daughter and son-in-law, both of whom are Jewish.

“I was privileged to have a private 15 or 20 minutes with the family,” Myers said. “The president was very warm, very consoling, put his hand on my shoulder, and the first question he asked me was, ‘Rabbi, tell me how are you doing.’ 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.”

Trump did not speak publicly during his brief visit to Pittsburgh, instead quietly paying tribute at the synagogue by laying flowers for the 11 victims and visiting a hospital to see officers who were wounded in Saturday’s shooting.

Ahead of the visit, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and other officials said any visit by the president should come after the burials of those killed Saturday. Trump’s presence drew peaceful protesters outside the synagogue.

Speaking to reporters Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump found his visit to be “very humbling” and “very sad” and that he was “incredibly impressed” by Myers.

Read more:

Synagogue shooting spurs calls for Ottawa to fund police protection for worshippers

Israel defends Trump amid synagogue shooting criticism

Pittsburgh funerals continue after Trump visit and protests

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Read more about: