On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump slammed critics of his controversial response to last weekend’s violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. He reiterated his stance against the removal of Confederate monuments of pro-slavery Civil war.
The President has been engulfed in series of controversies following his response to the clashes between white nationalists and counter protesters that lead to the death of one person and left several others injured. Trump blamed “both sides” for the violence.
Trump's criticism
He criticized moves in several states, including North Carolina, Florida, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas, over dismantling statues of Confederate leaders.
Trump stated that it was sad to see the culture and history of the United State discarded with the dismantling of the Confederate monuments.
The clashes ensued after white nationalists staged a rally in Charlottesville to protest the plan to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The rally was met with counter protesters and one person was killed when a car plowed into a crowd.
Confederate monuments are seen by many people as symbols of hate.
On Tuesday, Trump also expressed his opposition to dismantling the Confederate monuments of commanders in a press briefing during which he accused both the white nationalists and counter protesters for being responsible for Charlottesville violence.
He said either side has some “very fine people.” His remarks sparked widespread condemnation.
On Thursday, The President slammed Republican Senators Jeff Flake and Lindsey Graham and the media and said he had not made any moral comparison between the white supremacists and their opponents.
Republicans' criticism of the President's response
Graham has urged President Trump to heal Americans with his words after she said the President’s words suggest “moral equivalency” between the white supremacists and the counter protesters.
Trump tweeted that publicity seeking Graham falsely accused him of saying there was moral equivalency between the white supremacists, the KKK, and the neo-Nazis.
He added that such was a disgusting lie and that Graham cannot just forget his election trouncing, but the voters in North Carolina will definitely remember.
Also in a tweet, Trump described Flake as very weak on borders, crime and a totally non-factor in Senate. The President appears to be supporting Flake’s Republican rival, Kelli Ward, in the 2018 mid-term election.
Trump’s criticism of lawmakers of his own Republican party could further derail his resolve to get his major policies pass legislative approvals in the Republican-dominated Congress.
