UPDATED - 'Racism is evil': Trump explicitly denounces KKK, white supremacists and neo-Nazis

[DonViejo]

Source: RawStory

ERIC W. DOLAN
14 AUG 2017 AT 12:44 ET

President Donald Trump said Monday that he condemned the outbreak of violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. He explicitly denounced white supremacists and neo-Nazis.

To anyone who acted criminally in this weekends violence justice will be delivered, the president said.

Trump called the events in Charlottesville an egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence.

The president faced criticism after he addressed the violence over the weekend. Trump said on Saturday that many sides were to blame but made no mention of white nationalists or neo-Nazis.

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Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/racism-is-evil-trump-explicitly-denounces-kkk-white-supremacists-and-neo-nazis/

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UPDATE:

Trump declares 'racism is evil' amid pressure over Charlottesville

The president was widely criticized for waiting until Monday to specifically condemn the hate groups that marched over the weekend.

By LOUIS NELSON 08/14/2017 08:21 AM EDT Updated 08/14/2017 12:59 PM EDT

President Donald Trump on Monday denounced the white supremacist groups whose rally in Virginia on Saturday turned deadly, criticizing racist violence in remarks that were much more direct in their condemnation than his initial, widely-panned response.

Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans, Trump said in televised remarks Monday afternoon from the White House. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.

That the president waited until Monday to specifically condemn the hate groups that marched over the weekend had raised eyebrows and recalled multiple episodes from his 2016 campaign in which the president was forced to distance himself from symbolism and language tied to white supremacist and anti-Semitic groups.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions and newly installed FBI Director Christopher Wray briefed Trump on Monday before his statement on the clashes in Charlottesville.

more
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/14/white-house-defends-trump-charlottesville-241604

Trump declares ‘racism is evil’ and denounces neo-Nazis, KKK

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-declares-racism-evil-denounces-neo-nazis-kkk-164751880.html

[MFM008]

1. After he was

FORCED .

[leftynyc]

4. But now the nazi trash

can't pretend he supports what they did this weekend. You wouldn't think that would be an issue with a US President but turns out it is.

[onit2day]

22. He never mentioned KKK or white supremacists

until after 3 days his speech writer singled them out as a response to the pressure from the rest of the world. Now this quote can be thrown in Duke's face and demonstrate to white supremacists they are not supported and will be prosecuted and held accountable.

[leftynyc]

23. According to the NY Times

report, he mentioned both. Did they get it wrong?

[onit2day]

29. They got it right, took 3 days though.

[pangaia]

39. Of course they can.

He simply as forced to say what he said today. But he had his fingers crossed.

[SpankMe]

2. Too little, too late. n/t

[Boomer]

3. Wooden delivery, but he got through it

Apparently there's been enough blowback to impress on Trump that he has to stay on script this time. It was a stiff, canned speech, obviously written for him rather than with him, and one he didn't dare improvise.

[atreides1]

43. My understanding

Was that Trump looked like a hostage being forced to read a ransom demand...all he needed was a newspaper with today's date to complete the scene!

[moda253]

5. I didn't hear him say white supremacists.

And I didn't hear him call it terrorism.

[leftynyc]

13. According the NY Times report

in the comment just below yours, they're quoting him as saying white supremecists and other hate groups (along with the names kkk and neo nazis). Did the Times get it wrong?

[BumRushDaShow]

6. NY Times link

Trump, Saying ‘Racism Is Evil,’ Condemns Violence in Charlottesville

By GLENN THRUSH AUG. 14, 2017

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump bowed to overwhelming pressure that he personally condemn white supremacists who incited bloody demonstrations in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend — labeling their racists views “evil” after two days of equivocal statements.

“Racism is evil,” Mr. Trump said. “And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.”

Several of the president’s top advisers, including his new Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, pressed Mr. Trump to issue a more forceful rebuke after his comment on Saturday that the violence in Charlottesville was initiated by “many sides,” prompting nearly universal criticism.

That pressure reached boiling point early Monday after the president attacked the head of Merck pharmaceuticals, who is black, for quitting an advisory board over his failure to call out white nationalists.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/14/us/politics/trump-charlottesville-protest.html

[ButSeeYa]

7. Whatever. Too little, too late.

Would not be surprised if he was reading from a script.

[Scarsdale]

38. Bannon will publish an apology

on his Not-So-Breitbart site. tRump added a PS to the Nazi and KKK "PLEASE vote for me at the next election. My businesses are doing bigly well. You know I HAD to say these things, but I do not mean them"

[LudwigPastorius]

8. I didn't see the video.

Was he winking, and did he have his fingers crossed behind his back?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

9. He condemned the black CEO of Merck before he condemned Charlotteville supremacists. . . nt

[underpants]

12. Yep. Too little too late

[Honeycombe8]

10. This came off as bowing to pressure. Weak President. This is what he should've said 1st time.nt

[MrsCoffee]

11. Too late, they are already emboldened by his bullshit response yesterday.

They applauded him for it.

[leftynyc]

14. He FAILED when it really counted

This is just his staff trying to get it cleaned up and writing a statement for him to read.

[madamesilverspurs]

15. "Criminals and thugs"

That's how he referred to those who cause racial violence.

Given his public comments during the campaign, didn't he just accuse himself?


.

[David__77]

16. I have to say that I'm somewhat relieved.

I understand that his words may not reflect his actual thinking. That said, if Trump continued to withhold his condemnation of racism, it would open a lot of political space for racism to be further normalized within the broader political right. As much as I don't subscribe to the Republican Party, there are many people within it, including elected officials, who do not adhere to white nationalist politics. Trump's words as a big blow to the morale and opportunities of the fascist groups, including "alt right." Trump recognized and conveyed agreement with the consensus position that racism is immoral and unacceptable.

While Trump going off the deep end and upholding white nationalism would definitely, in a sense, be helpful to the political prospects of progressives, it is too dangerous, and the price much much too high to hope for anything other than the "taming" of Trump by the mainstream Republicans.

[heaven05]

28. "somewhat relieved"

really? He mouthed words he was forced to mouth...he cares nothing about any other race than the white race and if they are uber rich, so much the better. You can afford to be somewhat relived, I guess... TRUMP IS A RACIST PIG AND 99.9% of his administration is also

Yeah you probably can afford to be relieved, I can't and won't be until this nightmare is over, if it ever ends.

[David__77]

36. He should be driven from power.

I am, indeed, a bit relieved at anything at all that will be politically disorienting to those forces. I'm not sure about whether or not it matters that I can afford or not afford to have that sense; that said, I'm certainly on the liquidation list of these groups.

I have no doubt that he has consciously sent all sort of messages to this mob: "I support you." No one should praise his words against racism now. The thing is to ensure he says them again and again.

[hexola]

17. He still used the phrase "other hate groups"

Therby lumping the lefties in with the haters...he meant BLM and they all know it...they just can't help themselves...

As long as they keep giving the wink to the haters - they will keep coming.

[OliverQ]

18. Reading a prepared speech he's never seen before from the screen

and having to start by lying about his economic accomplishments.


Absolutely fake and insincere. I think that was worse than him not saying anything, because it showed he didn't want to criticize his Nazi base, but was forced to.

[gademocrat7]

19. Nothing he can say now will undo the damage he has caused.

[erpowers]

20. Still Not Satisfied

I am still not satisfied. It seemed to me that he was still trying to make it seem like hatred and violence was coming from all sides. In addition, it was clear to see that he was reading from a script. Yes, he called out the racist, but it took him until the middle of the speech to name the Heather Heyer and call out the Nazis, KKK, and White Supremacists. That should have happened in the beginning of the speech.

[Scarsdale]

42. Imagine how he would

have felt if one of HIS kids had been purposely run down and killed? No concern for the life of a young lady who wants to live in a world where racism does not exist. Such a loss. Deepest sympathy to her family.

[johnp3907]

21. Pardon me....,

[flibbitygiblets]

24. Thanks for stating the obvious, under pressure, Dolt. What about Domestic Terrorism?

Because that's what this was. Had the perpetrator been a POC, we'd have the words "Terrorist" ringing in our ears from President Butt-Lips 24/7.

[George II]

25. His heart wasn't in it. Minutes after the (Black) CEO of Merck resigned...

...this morning he attacked him. But it took 48 hours, reluctantly, to attack the KKK and neo-Nazis.

People aren't stupid.

[Mme. Defarge]

26. Maybe those rumors about Bannon

being soon to go are true.

[redstatebluegirl]

27. It was clear he was forced to make that statement and it was still very milk toast.

The nazi nuts will just say he was forced to say it and he didn't mean it. He answered faster to the Merck chair stepping down than he did for a terrorist attack on this country.

[Freethinker65]

30. Minnesota Mosque bombing? Did he mention it?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

31. Newsrooms across America are on high alert because ***** said "racism is evil."

Think about this: Newsrooms across America are on screaming high alert because the President of the United States said "racism is evil."

Link to tweet

[sarge43]

32. John Oliver is right.

"The first thing you say is who you are."

[C_U_L8R]

33. Clearly, the GOP made him say it

Their party is the party of racists, bigots, fascists, etc.
They just don't want it said out loud.

[hexola]

34. "other hate groups" same as "on many sides"

Same shit - different word choice...

He's still including the counter-protest as "hate groups"

Just what the alt.right types want.

[Moostache]

35. Here's the thought I just had that gives me just some calm amidst the sea of chaos...

I thought to myself, just how fucked would we be if Trump had 1/1000th the speaking ability and forceful command of an audience that Obama or Reagan had? He was choking himself to spit out words of condemnation for actual hate groups. That in and of itself is telling.

This is a street thug wannabe tough guy, out of his depth (which is to say anything greater than a puddle) and unable to control himself or stay on message. He can't sell an apology that he does not mean and he can't condemn those he does not believe in his heart are wrong.

If Trump were even a little better at this, we would be a former democratic republic by New Year's...we may STILL end up there if we're not vigilant and stay on top of him, but the chances of ending America faster are dying by the hour with his credibility among those who did not want to see the sham earlier...

[Julian Englis]

37. Too little, too late. n/t

[dgibby]

40. Nothing he says matters

as long as Bannon, Gorka, Miller, and the rest of the Deplorables are allowed to remain in his administration. Time for him to put his money where his mouth is.

[Javaman]

41. too late tRump that train left, you waited to long and you showed us your true colors.

fuck off you imitation president

[Midnight Writer]

44. Like a guy who beats his wife and then apologizes in front of the judge.

[Mc Mike]

45. Thanks, dRumpfenfuhrer.

[WIProgressive88]

46. The time for this statement was several days ago. Too little too late.

[AmandaRuth]

47. What he actually meant

Was get lost alt r, I don't need you anymore

[Doug the Dem]

48. In related news, Pearl Harbor May Have Been Bad Idea: Abe

President Pathetic.