Republicans and Democrats are calling on President Trump to denounce white supremacists after protests in Charlottesville, Va., turned into violent clashes with demonstrators opposing the neo-Nazi and white nationalist groups. One woman died when a man who witnesses say was carrying white supremacist signs earlier in the day rammed his car into a group of counter protesters.
The president condemned “in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides” and said the tensions have been there long before he, or his predecessor Barack Obama, took office.
“It’s been going on for a long time in our country,” he said.
Critics say the president must do more to specifically call out racism and white supremacism as the driving force behind the violence.
“Mr President — we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism,” Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado tweeted.
Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who opposed Trump in the 2016 election, tweeted the president must make it clear he regards this as a terror attack by white supremacists: ” Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists”
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) said: “Until POTUS specifically condemns alt-right action in Charlottesville, he hasn’t done his job.”
Some Christian leaders also believe the president needs to go farther in his statements.
Wheaton College professor and former Executive Director of Lifeway Research Ed Stetzer responded to his remarks: “Glad to see the President speak out, particularly since many of these people have been emboldened by his election.”
“Trump is very, very specific when he wants to condemn someone — ask the Khans, Judge Curiel, Comey, his AG — his vagueness as a purpose,” tweeted National Review writer and longtime Trump critic David French.
