PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP has issued a warning to those who took part in white supremacist marches in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend after coming under pressure for appearing to side with racist groups.
In his strongest statement so far, Trump described racists as “repugnant” and “thugs”.
Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs – including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.
It comes after strong criticism from both Democrats and Republicans following Trump’s initial statement on the Charlottesville violence which condemned violence “on many sides”.
A woman died and 20 people were injured when a car ploughed into a crowd of people after a rally by Ku Klux Klan (KKK) members and other white nationalists turned violent.
Today, Trump paid tribute to the woman, Heather Heyer, and two state police officers who also died this weekend in a helicopter crash near the area.
During the media briefing, Trump announced that an FBI investigation would be launched into the car attack and the violence over the past few days.
“You will be held fully accountable. Justice will be delivered,” he said, addressing those who took part in the marches.
Trump’s ambiguous statements about the white nationalist marches prompted a White House spokesperson to issue a statement yesterday clarifying on his behalf.
It said: “The president said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred.
Of course that includes white supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazi and all extremist groups.
But the neo-Nazi website the Daily Stormer posted a statement which praised Trump for not attacking them.
“When asked to condemn, he just walked out of the room. Really, really good. God bless him,” the statement said.
Today, however, Trump sought to clear up the matter following a barrage of criticism from all sides of the political spectrum.
“We condemn in the strongest possible terms, this egregious display of hatred and bigotry… Violence has no place in America.
“No matter the colour of our skin we all salute the same great flag and we are made by the same Almighty god,” he said.
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