Trump’s response draws flak

US president blames ‘many sides’ for Virginia rally violence

We agreed that the hate and the division must stop, and must stop right now.

Donald Trump

BEDMINSTER ( New JERSEY): President Donald Trump blamed “many sides” for the violent clashes between protesters and white supremacists in Virginia and contended that the “hatred and bigotry” broadcast across the country had taken root long before his political ascendancy.

That was not how the Charlottesville mayor assessed the chaos that led the governor to declare a state of emergency, contending that Trump’s campaign fed the flames of prejudice.

Trump, on a working vacation at his New Jersey golf club, on Saturday had intended to speak briefly at a ceremony marking the signing of bipartisan legislation to aid veterans, but he quickly found that those plans were overtaken by the escalating violence in the Virginia college town.

One person died and at least 26 others were sent to the hospital after a car plough into a group of peaceful anti-racist counter-protest- ers amid days of race-fuelled marches and violent clashes.

Speaking slowly from a podium set up in the golf clubhouse, Trump said that he had just spoken to Governor Terry McAuliffe.

“We agreed that the hate and the division must stop, and must stop right now. We have to come together as Americans with love for our nation and ... true affection for each other,” he said.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides,” said Trump.

“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.”

The president said that “what is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives”.

After completing his statement and the bill signing, Trump then walked out of the room.

He ignored reporters’ shouted questions, including whether he wanted the support of white nationals who have said they backed him or if the car crash in Virginia were deemed intentional, would it be declared to be terrorism.

The previous two days, Trump took more than 50 questions from a small group of reporters.

A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for an explanation as to what Trump mean by “many sides”.

Following Trump’s comment, sev- eral Republicans pushed for a more explicit denunciation of white supremacists.

Colorado Senator Cory Gardner tweeted “Mr. President – we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism.”

Florida Senator Marco Rubio wrote “Nothing patriotic about #Nazis, the #KKK or #WhiteSupremacists. It’s the direct opposite of what #America seeks to be.”

And even New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a staunch Trump supporter, wrote: “We reject the racism and violence of white nationalists like the ones acting out in Charlottesville. Everyone in leadership must speak out.”

Trump’s speech also drew praise from the neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer, which wrote: “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.” — AFP