On Tuesday, Donald Trump finally addressed the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States, but not everyone was impressed. When the issue was brought up on cable news, tempers started to flare.

CNN clash

After visiting the National Museum of African American Museum and Culture on Tuesday, Donald Trump addressed the press while reading a prepared statement. During his remarks, the president referred to the increase in anti-Semitic hate crimes as "painful" and "horrible," while vowing to fight back against all forms of "bigotry," "hatred" and "intolerance." In response, critics of the president were not pleased with his comments, claiming they were "too little, too late." The issue was highlighted during a February 21 segment on CNN, which quickly spiraled out of control.

(The conversation heats up around 4:00 in the above video.)

Joining the CNN panel was the executive director of the Anne Frank Center of Mutual Respect, Steven Goldstein, as well as network contributor and Donald Trump surrogate, Kayleigh McEnany. Goldstein accused Trump of being "forced" to make his remarks by "some staffers," hitting back at the former host of "The Apprentice" for remarks that didn't appear sincere. In response, McEnany pushed back, citing a previous quote by Trump where he called for "peace in this country." When McEnany asked Goldstein if he thought the president hated his daughter, Ivanka, who is Jewish, the conversation went to the next level.

"I'm tired of commentators like you from the right trotting out his daughter, and trotting out his son-in-law as talking points against the president's anti-Semitism," Goldstein stated, calling it a "disgrace." Not stopping there, Goldstein continued to attack McEnany, asking, "Have you no ethics than to invoke people's religion as a talking point?" McEnany attempted to chime in, but Goldstein went on to say, "That itself is anti-Semitic." The two continued to battle it out throughout the rest of the segment, as the divide between the left and the right continued.

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After just a month in office, Donald Trump has caused further friction and disdain between liberals and conservatives. From his immigration policies, to his social media rhetoric, and his attacks on the media, it doesn't appear likely that common ground will be found between both sides at any point in the near future.
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