Donald Trump: Charlottesville response slammed by critics
MOMENTS after a car ploughed through people at a race hate march on Sunday, Donald Trump addressed the media. Critics say he missed the point badly.
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has been slammed for his response to deadly clashes between protesters and white supremacists in Virginia.
While the President was quick to condemn the violence, critics pointed out that he failed to condemn those behind it.
The President blamed “many sides” for the violent clashes which saw a car plough into counter-protesters at a race hate march, which left three people dead and 35 injured.
Both Democrats and Republicans criticised the President for failing to call out white supremacy and racially-motivated hate by name.
In a press conference today, Mr Trump said the violence had no place in the United States.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides,” he said.
“It’s been going on for a long time in our country. Not Donald Trump. Not Barack Obama. It’s been going on for a long, long time. It has no place in America. What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives.”
Nationalists were holding the rally to protest plans by the city of Charlottesville to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee when the violence took a deadly turn.
However, what the President said next raised eyebrows as instead of condemning far right groups, he highlighted the country’s economic achievements.
“Our country is doing very well in so many ways. We have record, just absolute record employment. We have unemployment the lowest it’s been in almost seventeen years. We have companies pouring into our country. Foxconn and car companies and so many others, they’re coming back to our country. We’re renegotiating trade deals to make them great for our country and great for the American worker,” he said.
The President earlier condemned the event in a series of tweets and also called for unity.
We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for. There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
We must remember this truth: No matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are ALL AMERICANS FIRST. pic.twitter.com/FesMiQSKKn
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 12, 2017
However, critics said his response didn’t go far enough and that he needed to condemn the white supremacist movement specifically.
Charlottesville Mayor and Democrat Michael Signer directly blamed Mr Trump over the tragedy.
“I’m not going to make any bones about it,” he said.
“I place the blame for a lot of what you’re seeing in America today right at the doorstep of the White House and the people around the president.”
Republican Senator Cory Gardner said the event was terrorism and needed to be called exactly that.
Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism. https://t.co/PaPNiPPAoW
— Cory Gardner (@SenCoryGardner) August 12, 2017
Fellow Republican Marco Rubio tweeted those responsible for the tragedy were “agitators in search of relevance and publicity who must be stopped.
He also called on the POTUS to call the event for what it was — a terror attack.
Others also condemned the violence and blamed it on white supremacists.
Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 12, 2017
.@POTUS needs to speak out against the poisonous resurgence of white supremacy. There are not "many sides" here, just right and wrong.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) August 12, 2017
Even as we protect free speech and assembly, we must condemn hatred, violence and white supremacy. #Charlottesville
— Bill Clinton (@billclinton) August 12, 2017
Virginia Attorney-General Mark Herring, a Democrat, also tweeted it was incorrect to say there was hatred on all sides.
The violence, chaos, and apparent loss of life in Charlottesville is not the fault of "many sides." It is racists and white supremacists.
— Mark Herring (@MarkHerringVA) August 12, 2017
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican and Trump supporter said white supremacists had no place in the US.
“We reject the racism and violence of white nationalists like the ones acting out in Charlottesville. Everyone in leadership must speak out,” he said.
However the Daily Stormer, a white supremacist website promoting the Charlottesville demonstration on its Summer of Hate edition, praised the President’s response.
“Trump comments were good. He didn’t attack us. He just said the nation should come together. Nothing specific against us. ... No condemnation at all. When asked to condemn, he just walked out of the room. Really, really good. God bless him,” it read.
Controversial filmmaker and strong Trump critic Michael Moore went even further and accused the President of inciting the violence in the first place.
In a stinging Facebook post, Moore wrote: “To the White Leader in the White House.
“There is not bigotry ‘all on sides’. There is only one side where the hate lies — yours. You are the one who ran a campaign of hate speech and racism. You are the inciter of this violence. And we are the ones who are going to peacefully and nonviolently remove you from power. Mark my words.”
Harry Potter author and fellow Trump critic JK Rowling also slammed Mr Trump’s response, and said his condemnation didn’t go far enough.
Hell of a day for the President to forget how to tweet. pic.twitter.com/ABffmwwH8D
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 12, 2017
New, from Hallmark: platitudes for the Nazi mob in YOUR life. https://t.co/epERhIY8sw
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 12, 2017
Others were quick to join the criticism.
Doesn't even name the protest, condemn specific actions or speak out against the use of Nazi symbols or the KKK marching in his name.
— Miranda Romkey (@mromkey) August 12, 2017
He doesn't mention Charlottesville and the nazis there. Such a vague and pathetic statement. They are there because of him.
— PrimeAperturePhoto (@prime_aperture) August 12, 2017
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