Trump condemns ‘egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence’ in Charlottesville

President Trump on Saturday condemned the “egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence” in Charlottesville, Virginia, where white nationalists upset over the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue violently clashed with counter-protesters.

UVA Medical Center said one person died and 19 others are being treated for injuries after a car plowed into a crowd of demonstrators.

“We are closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia,” Trump told reporters at his golf club in New Jersey.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides – on many sides,” he said.

On Saturday evening, a White House aide issued a statement clarifying why the president used the phrase "on many sides” instead of singling out the white nationalists who initially gathered in Charlottesville.

“The president was condemning hatred, bigotry and violence from all sources and all sides,” a White House official said. “There was violence between protesters and counter protesters today.”

During his remarks, the president said he spoke with Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who declared a state of emergency on Saturday.

“What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives,” the president said. “No citizen should ever fear for safety and security in our society. And no child should ever be afraid to go outside and play or be with their parents and have a good time.”

The president made the comments during a bill signing with Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin. Earlier Saturday, Trump first responded to the unrest on Twitter.

“We ALL must be united & condemn all that hate stands for,” the president tweeted. “There is no place for this kind of violence in America. Lets come together as one!”

Vice President Mike Pence also weighed in, tweeting: “I stand with @POTUS against hate & violence. U.S is greatest when we join together & oppose those seeking to divide us. #Charlottesville.”
The demonstrators gathered for a "pro-white" rally to protest Charlottesville's decision to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from a city park.

VIOLENT CLASHES ERUPT AT ‘UNITE THE RIGHT’ RALLY IN VIRGINIA

Thousands of supporters and counter-protesters screamed, chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday.

Both Republicans and Democrats released statements Saturday criticizing the protesters.

“The views fueling the spectacle in Charlottesville are repugnant,” House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted. “Let it only serve to unite Americans against this kind of vile bigotry.” http://www.foxnews.com/politics/201...-bigotry-and-violence-in-charlottesville.html I stand with Trump , Pence, and speaker Ryan against all the violence that occurred today. There should be no place for violence in our political discourse. Those who committed crimes today should all be given real consequences for them.

 

And trump is surprised after ginning up his base

his chickens are coming home to roost

 

True if his base were violent radical leftists.

 

Outside of the individual behind the wheel of that car, the violence of the white nationalists and the Antifa and the injuries caused and suffered by each were comparable. The police helicopter was monitoring both sides. All violence over political differences is to be condemned.