Donald Trump criticized for not denouncing white nationalists at rally

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump condemned hatred, bigotry and violence “on many sides” after clashes at a white nationalists’ rally in Virginia capped off by incidents that left three people dead including a pedestrian and two in a helicopter crash. Trump was swiftly criticised for being too tame.

The president spoke after two days of violent protests in Charlottesville, home to the University of Virginia, triggered by a “Unite the Right” rally organised to protest the removal of the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The pedestrian died after a car struck counter-protesters. The Federal Bureau of Investigation opened a civil-rights probe into the incident.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, violence — on many sides,” Trump said in Bedminster, New Jersey, in brief remarks before signing legislation extending a program allowing veterans to receive private health care. “We must love each other, respect each other and cherish our history — together.”

Even as Trump called on the nation to unite, many faulted the president — and his reference to “many sides” — for not strongly coming out against the type of far-right groups that supported his campaign and organised the weekend’s events.

The president’s daughter Ivanka, a White House adviser, on Sunday tweeted: “There should be no place in society for racism, white supremacy and neo-nazis. We must all come together as Americans — and be one country UNITED.”

By contrast, in his comments in New Jersey and in a Twitter message earlier Saturday, Trump avoided direct references to the white nationalists, neo-Nazis, neo-Confederates and other right-wing activists who congregated in the city and on the campus of UVA, which was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson.