Trump slams media for ‘hate’ row
UNITED STATES: US President Donald Trump revved up his supporters yesterday with a defence of his response to a white supremacist-organised rally in Virginia and a promise to shut down the US government if necessary to build a wall along the border with Mexico.
Under fire for saying ‘‘both sides’’ were to blame for the violence between white supremacists and left-wing counter-protesters in Virginia on August 12, Trump accused television networks of ignoring his calls for unity in the aftermath.
‘‘I didn’t say I love you because you’re black, or I love you because you’re white,’’ Trump told a rally in Phoenix, Arizona. ‘‘I love all the people of our country.’’
Police used pepper spray to dis- perse crowds after protesters threw rocks and bottles outside the convention centre where Trump spoke.
Trump, who often uses news organisations as a foil, repeatedly singled out the media for criticism of how it covered the violence in the Virginia college town of Charlottesville and the resulting political fallout.
‘‘These are truly dishonest people. They’re bad people. I really think they don’t like our country,’’ he said. ‘‘The only people giving a platform to these hate groups is the media.’’
Adopting a glib tone, Trump said many reporters ignored his condemnation of white supremacists, including the Ku Klux Klan.
James Clapper, a former director of US national intelligence, expressed concern at Trump’s performance, calling it ‘‘downright scary and disturbing’’.
‘‘I question his fitness to be in office,’’ Clapper told CNN.
Funding for the border wall has flagged in the US Congress as many lawmakers question whether Trump’s main promise during the 2016 presidential election campaign is really necessary.
But with a budget battle looming, Trump said he would be willing to risk a politically damaging government shutdown in order to secure funding for the wall. He visited the border region in Yuma, Arizona earlier in the day.
‘‘If we have to close down our government, we’re building that wall,’’ Trump said. ‘‘The American people voted for immigration control. We’re going to get that wall.’’
Trump also weighed in on another racially charged issue, hinting he would pardon former Maricopa County sheriff Joe Arpaio, who battled illegal immigration in the Phoenix area and was found guilty last month of criminal contempt for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.
Trump covered a range of issues during a raucous, rambling and defiant political speech lasting an hour and 15 minutes. He said he might terminate the NAFTA trade treaty with Mexico and Canada to jumpstart negotiations, and said the standoff with North Korea over its weapons programmes might have taken a positive turn.
He also expressed frustration that the Republican-controlled Congress was unable to approve healthcare legislation that failed to pass the Senate by one vote last month.
One of the votes against the legislation was cast by Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer. Without mentioning their names, Trump criticised both McCain and his fellow Arizona Republican, Senator Jeff Flake, neither of whom attended the event.
The White House had said earlier when asked about Arpaio that ‘‘there will be no discussion of that today’’. That did not stop Trump from raising the subject.
‘‘Do the people in this room like Sheriff Joe?’’ he asked, sparking loud applause and a chant of ‘‘Pardon Joe!’’ before predicting that Arpaio ‘‘can feel good’’. – Reuters