6:29
- ABC News
- Donald Trump
- August 16, 2017
Lawmakers slam Trump's latest comments
Lawmakers on both sides criticized Trump's blame of the "alt-left" Tuesday.
6:29
Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, reposted his statement from Monday, writing, “seems like a good time to re-up these remarks\" that America had \"some soul-searching to do\" in the wake of \"this weekend's violence.\"
Seems like a good time to re-up these remarks --> https://t.co/TVQEND6gfr
— Senator Hatch Office (@senorrinhatch) August 15, 2017
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., followed in Hatch’s footsteps, writing that it was a “good time” to bring back his statement from Aug. 12, where he called on Trump to describe “the events in Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by white supremacists.”
Very important for the nation to hear @potus describe events in #Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by #whitesupremacists
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 12, 2017
Rubio took it a step further with a six-tweet thread to detail why the organizers of the rally were 100 percent to blame. Rubio wrote the protest organizers believe in \"evil ideology which argues certain people are inferior because of race,\" and that the white supremacist groups will see being assigned \"only 50% of blame\" as a win.
They are adherents of an evil ideology which argues certain people are inferior because of race, ethnicity or nation of origin. 2/6
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 15, 2017
These groups today use SAME symbols & same arguments of #Nazi & #KKK, groups responsible for some of worst crimes against humanity ever 4/6
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 15, 2017
The #WhiteSupremacy groups will see being assigned only 50% of blame as a win.We can not allow this old evil to be resurrected 6/6
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 15, 2017
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Trump’s remarks “clearly show” he is seeking to divide the country.
“By saying he is not taking sides, Donald Trump clearly is. When David Duke and white supremacists cheer your remarks, you’re doing it very very wrong,” Schumer said in a statement.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who declared a state of emergency on Saturday, reminded Trump in a statement that “neo-Nazis, Klansmen, and white supremacists came to Charlottesville heavily armed, spewing hatred and looking for a fight.”
“This was not ‘both sides’.... We need real leadership, starting with our President. Leaders from every corner of this nation and every partisan point of view have denounced these people and their acts in plain terms without hesitation or dissembling. ... The American people need the same from their President and we need it now,” McAuliffe added.
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., called out the president’s language referring to the different kinds of groups involved, tweeting, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there are not 'many sides' to this.”
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: there are not “many sides” to this. pic.twitter.com/AosWtqVt3k
— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) August 15, 2017
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., broke his silence, warning there can be “no moral ambiguity.”
“We must be clear. White supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for,” Ryan added in his tweet.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., tweeted, “Trump just repeated his previous views of the moral equivalence of white supremacists and civil rights protesters in #Charlottesville,” adding, “@realDonaldTrump, there is no moral equivalence between those who fight for civil rights and white supremacists.”
He continued with a third tweet referencing the weekend protests against a statue of the Confederate leader Robert E. Lee, writing, “Washington and Jefferson fought to create this country. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson fought to preserve slavery. Not the same!”
Washington and Jefferson fought to create this country. Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson fought to preserve slavery. Not the same!
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) August 15, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump, there is no moral equivalence between those who fight for civil rights and white supremacists.
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) August 15, 2017
Trump just repeated his previous views of the moral equivalence of white supremacists and civil rights protesters in #Charlottesville.
— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) August 15, 2017
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., released a statement following the president's remarks, criticizing the speech in a larger racial context.
“From the beginning, President Trump has sheltered and encouraged the forces of bigotry and discrimination.We have seen the manifestation of this behavior in the hiring of White House staff members, but also in the unmistakable conduct of his Administration toward immigrants, Muslims, and communities of color,” Pelosi said.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez asked Americans to “not lose hope,” “not give in to fear,” and “not be intimidated by this sad excuse for a president” in his statement.
“We stand with you and we will never back down,” Perez said.
Former Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., kept his comments simple, writing, “This President is an embarrassment.”
This President is an embarrassment.
— John Dingell (@JohnDingell) August 15, 2017
More officeholders within the president’s own party expressed their discontent, with Rep. Ilena Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., writing, \"Blaming \"both sides\" for #Charlottesville?! No. Back to relativism when dealing with KKK, Nazi sympathizers, white supremacists? Just no.”
Blaming \"both sides\" for #Charlottesville?! No. Back to relativism when dealing with KKK, Nazi sympathizers, white supremacists? Just no.
— Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (@RosLehtinen) August 15, 2017
Republican pollster Kristen Soltis-Anderson appeared unfazed by the situation, however, tweeting, “this is who he is. You don't get to be surprised anymore.”
This is who he is. You don't get to be surprised anymore.
— Kristen S Anderson (@KSoltisAnderson) August 15, 2017
Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director under President Barack Obama, lambasted the entire GOP in his tweet: “This is on you, you did this, and only you can do something about this.”
Republican Party: This is on you, you did this, and only you can do something about this
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) August 15, 2017
The NAACP called today’s press conference “alarming” and “despicable,” adding “some things are left better unsaid.\"
The President proclaims that that both sides are to blame once again during a current press conference. #Charlottesville
— NAACP (@NAACP) August 15, 2017
The Anti-Defamation League said the comparisons Trump made between white supremacists and the counter-protesters in the rally were \"beyond the pale.\"
.@POTUS: Two sides don’t exist here. Comparisons btwn white supremacists & counter protesters are beyond the pale.
— ADL (@ADL_National) August 15, 2017