Over the last 48 hours, Donald Trump has come under fire for how he handled his response to the white nationalist rally turned riot in Charlottesville, Virginia. After initially failing to condemn the white nationalism, the president held a news conference to do just that on Monday afternoon.
Trump on white nationalism
This past Saturday in Charlottesville, Virginia, hundreds of white nationalists took part in the "Unite the Right" rally. As expected, counter-protesters appeared, but the peaceful protest quickly spiraled out of control into violence.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe was forced to declare a state of emergency as a rally goer drove his car into a group of protesters. As a result, over 30 individuals were left injured, with one female protester killed. Donald Trump condemned what took place, but came under fire after refusing to call out white nationalism by name. After making his initial statement, Trump has since caved to the pressure and backlash and decided to attempt to right the ship with a press conference on Monday, as reported by NBC News on August 14.
Trump: "Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists" pic.twitter.com/fFPth5qSuH
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 14, 2017
While speaking at the White House on Monday afternoon, Donald Trump finally spoke out against White Supremacy in regards to the Charlottesville rally.
"To anyone who acted criminally in this weekend’s racist violence, you will be held fully accountable," Trump said.
POTUS: "We will spare no resource in fighting so that every American child can grow up free from violence & fear” https://t.co/0ja7yDbpJg
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 14, 2017
"Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists," Donald Trump continued.
"We will spare no resource in fighting so that every American child can grow up free from violence and fear," the president went on to say.
Twitter reacts
Not long after Donald Trump made his comments, critics on social media were quick to fire back. "Wow! took you 3 days to say the words!!" one Twitter user wrote.
Why didn't @realDonaldTrump NOT call them terrorist? Why give MS-13 an hour long speech, But #WhiteSupremacistTerrorists 5 minutes?
— LaMonica (@LaMonica) August 14, 2017
— YESI (@navayess0) August 14, 2017
— YESI (@navayess0) August 14, 2017
"TOO LATE.
He only mentioned them, he didn't disavow them. He didn't say he wants nothing to do with them nor #DavidDuke's statement," another social media user added. "A day late and a dollar short!" another tweet read. "Too little, Too late. If this is what you truly believed you would have said this on Saturday not wait until you were shamed into saying it," a Twitter user added.
Too little, Too late. If this is what you truely believed you would have said this on Saturday not wait until you were shamed into saying it
— Sheri Fauber (@vtmoneyobx) August 14, 2017
He "finally" said it. Whew! Took 2 days, but he did! Your audience buy his sensitivity? Honesty? I heard what he read.. didn't come from HIM
— Benjie Anderson (@BenjieTheMan) August 14, 2017
"He 'finally' said it.
Whew! Took 2 days, but he did! Your audience buy his sensitivity? Honesty? I heard what he read.. didn't come from HIM," yet another tweet noted. As the backlash to Donald Trump's remarks continued, it showed that the rift between the political left and right in the United States was not going to end anytime soon.
