U.S. President Donald Trump received wide-spread criticism — and praise — after he blamed “both sides” for the weekend violence between white supremacists and counter-demonstrators in Charlottesville, Va.
On Tuesday, Trump criticized the counter-protesters at the rally and labelled them as the “alt-left.”
“You had a group on one side that was bad,” Trump said on Tuesday. “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.”
WATCH: Republicans, Democrats condemn President Trump’s latest flip-flop on Charlottesville
While he did say there were bad people including neo-Nazis in the “alt-right” group, he also said there were trouble makers in the left-wing group.
While many condemned Trump’s speech, ex-KKK leader, David Duke took to Twitter to praise Trump for his “honesty and courage.”
Richard Spencer, the head of a white nationalist group, also wrote on Twitter that he was “proud of him for speaking the truth.”
Saturday’s rally was organized by white supremacists and other groups under a “Unite the Right” banner. Organizers said they were initially activated by their objections to the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee, but the larger aim was to protest what they saw as an “anti-white” climate in America.
During the rally, violence erupted and one counter-protester died after a white supremacist drove his car into the crowd.
WATCH: Trump likens counter-protesters to white nationalists
In his remarks, Trump condemned bigoted ideology and called James Alex Fields Jr., the man charged with driving his car into the crowd, “a disgrace to himself, his family and his country.” But Trump also expressed support for those seeking to maintain the monument to Lee, equating him with some of the nation’s founders who also owned slaves.
His remarks drew condemnation from some Republican leaders. Sen.Marco Rubio of Florida said Trump should not allow white supremacists “to share only part of the blame.”
“No, not the same,” former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wrote on Twitter. “One side is racist, bigoted, Nazi. The other opposes racism and bigotry. Morally different universes.”
House Speaker Paul Ryan declared in a tweet that “white supremacy is repulsive” and there should be “no moral ambiguity,” though he did not specifically address the president.
Democrats also criticized Trump’s comments. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said on Twitter that the Charlottesville violence “was fuelled by one side: white supremacists spreading racism, intolerance & intimidation. Those are the facts.” Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii said on Twitter that he no longer views Trump as his president.
—With files from the Associated Press
Comments