Monday, August 14, 2017
Two days after deadly clashes at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and on the heels of massive pressure, President Trump condemns racism and names specific groups including the KKK, Neo-Nazis and “other hate groups” in scripted remarks. (See 8/15 update below)
UPDATE, TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2017
One day after President Trump issued his second (prepared) remarks on the violence in Charlottesville, he held a news conference at Trump Tower while in New York on his working vacation. The briefing was on infrastructure issues but after a brief statement he took questions and was asked again about Virginia. What ensued was 15 minutes of contentious back and forth with reporters during which Mr. Trump reverted to his initial remarks and blamed “both sides”, this time, referring to the counter-demonstrators (who were protesting the Confederate and Nazi Flag-carrying white supremacists) as the “alt-left”.
Watch that news conference here (video courtesy NY Times – remarks regarding Charlottesville begin at roughly 6:20). Full NY Times article HERE.