Trump condemned at home, abroad for Charlottesville comments

World Today

FILE – In this July 24, 2017 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during an event about healthcare, in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington. The government will make this month’s payments to insurers under the Obama-era health care law that President Donald Trump still wants to repeal and replace, a White House official said Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2017. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Two former U.S. Presidents have joined the chorus of condemnation against Donald Trump for reversing his stance on a violent white supremacist rally in the state of Virginia.

George H. W. Bush and son George W. Bush called on Americans to reject racism and anti-Semitism.

CGTN’s Sean Callebs reports.

In the aftermath of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, President Trump is casting a wide net—blaming both sides for the melee.

Despite being labeled “divisive”, and “unpresidential”, Trump is refusing to budge.

International leaders are weighing in. British Prime Minister Theresa May avoided direct criticism of Trump, but made her feelings clear.

“I see no equivalence between those who profound facist views and those who oppose them,” she said. “I think it is important for all those in positions of responsibility to condemn far right views, wherever we can hear them.”

After seeing images of the “Unite the Right” march, German Chancellor Angela Merkel deemed it “absolutely repulsive”.

The U.N. Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, responded on twitter, writing, “Racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism & Islamophobia are poisoning our societies. We must stand up against them. Every time. Everywhere.”

The images have had a profound effect around the world.

Anastasia Crickley, President of the U.N. Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), had this to say:

“We are shocked and horrified by the racist hatred being shown by white supremacists, by right-wing groups, and by neo-Nazis in Charlottesville over the weekend.”

The White House reacted by issuing a list titled “Talking Points” to U.S. Congressional Republicans in an attempt to get lawmakers to back the President, claiming that Trump has been a voice for “unity” and “calm”.

The memo reads: “The President was entirely correct — both sides of the violence in Charlottesville acted inappropriately, and bear some responsibility.”

But Trump is getting no support on this one.

Members of both parties in the U.S. Congress are recoiling, with the Speaker of the House, Republican Paul Ryan, saying that, “We must be clear—white supremacy is repulsive.”

Many say it is a step back for Trump, with some urging the president to apologize.