U.S. President Donald Trump fired back Thursday at Lindsey Graham after the Republican Senator denounced Trump’s response to the racist violence in Charlottesville last weekend which killed one person.
ABOVE: Trump on Charlottesville violence: ‘there is blame on both sides’
In a series of tweets Thursday morning, Trump blasted the Senator and denied he had drawn a “moral equivalency” between white supremacists and counter-protesters.
“Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists…..” the president tweeted. “…and people like Ms. Heyer. Such a disgusting lie. He just can’t forget his election trouncing. The people of South Carolina will remember!”
Heather Heyer was mowed down by a car during the Charlottesville violence last Saturday.
On Wednesday, Graham lashed out at Trump saying his response to the racist rally in Charlottesville was “dividing Americans.”
“Mr. President, I encourage you to try to bring us together as a nation after this horrific event in Charlottesville. Your words are dividing Americans, not healing them,” Graham said in a statement. “Through his statements yesterday, President Trump took a step backward by again suggesting there is moral equivalency between the white supremacist neo-Nazis and KKK members who attended the Charlottesville rally and people like Ms. Heyer. I, along with many others, do not endorse this moral equivalency.”
On Tuesday, Trump placed the blame for violence on both sides of the protests, while labelling the anti-racist demonstrators as “alt-left.”
“Okay, what about the alt-left that came charging at — excuse me, what about the alt-left that came charging at the, as you say, the alt-right? Do they have any semblance of guilt?” Trump said. “Let me ask you this: What about the fact that they came charging with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do. As far as I’m concerned, that was a horrible, horrible day.”
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Trump blames ‘charging alt-left’ for Charlottesville violence -
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Hundreds gather at University of Virginia for candlelight vigil against hate and violence -
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Thousands march in Philadelphia in support of Charlottesville -
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‘You didn’t shut her up, you magnified her:’ Heather Heyer’s mother calls out those responsible for daughter’s death -
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Fallout escalating for Donald Trump over Charlottesville response -
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Trump on Charlottesville violence: ‘there is blame on both sides’
Trump said he watched coverage of the protests “very closely” and “you have — you had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. And nobody wants to say that, but I’ll say it right now. You had a group — you had a group on the other side that came charging in, without a permit, and they were very, very violent.”
The president again attacked the “fake news” on Thursday saying the media “totally misrepresent” what he said about bigotry.
READ MORE: 6 highlights from Donald Trump’s derailed press conference
“The public is learning (even more so) how dishonest the Fake News is. They totally misrepresent what I say about hate, bigotry etc. Shame!” Trump tweeted.
Graham responded back to Trump in a series of tweets Thursday, urging the president to “fix this” after “receiving praise from some of the most racist and hate-filled individuals and groups in our country.”
“Mr. President, like most I seek to move our nation, my state, and our party forward – toward the light – not back to the darkness,” the Senator tweeted. “However, because of the manner in which you have handled the Charlottesville tragedy you are now receiving praise from some of the most racist and hate-filled individuals and groups in our country.
“For the sake of our Nation — as our President — please fix this. History is watching us all,” Graham tweeted.
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