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Trump: I didn't draw moral equivalence between neo-Nazis and anti-hate groups Trump: Confederate statue removals 'rip apart' American history
(about 3 hours later)
Donald Trump on Thursday denied he had said there was a moral equivalence between the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and white supremacists and anti-hate protesters like Heather Heyer, who was killed during the violence in Charlottesville. Donald Trump on Thursday again lamented the removal of Confederate statues from US cities, saying these removals “ripped apart” the country’s history and culture.
The president’s early-morning barrage of tweets also deepened his hostilities with his own Republican party as he lashed out at his internal critics. He then compared statues of Confederate leaders like Stonewall Jackson to monuments of US founding fathers, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
In his first daybreak tweet, Trump attacked Senator Lindsey Graham as a “publicity-seeking” lawmaker and attacked him for saying “falsely” there was “moral equivalency” between the hate groups and anti-fascists. “The beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!” Trump tweeted.
Graham was one of a group of Republicans who criticised the president for his apportioning of blame on “many sides” over the violence ithat ensued after white nationalists descended on Charlottesville for a rally on Saturday. Trump’s comments were part of a barrage of Thursday morning tweets echoing statements he made at a press conference on Tuesday, where he defended the statues and drew parallels between white supremacists and and anti-hate protesters like Heather Heyer, who was killed during the violence in Charlottesville.
Hours earlier, he denied on Twitter that he had said there was a moral equivalence between the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and white supremacists and the anti-hate protesters.
The defense of Confederate monuments was made one day after New York City’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, said the city would conduct a review of “all symbols of hate” on city property. Earlier this week, statues were taken down overnight in Baltimore, Maryland.
Efforts to remove Confederate monuments have taken place for decades, but were given renewed energy in June 2015 after the killing of nine African Americans in a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Some of the white supremacists in Charlottesville claimed they were demonstrating to protest a push to remove the city’s statue of Confederate Gen Robert E Lee.
In his first daybreak tweet, Trump attacked the Republican senator Lindsey Graham as a “publicity seeking” lawmaker and attacked him for saying “falsely” that Trump had said there was “moral equivalency” between the hate groups and anti-fascists.
Graham was one of a group of Republicans who criticised the president for his apportioning of blame on “many sides” over the violence that ensued after white nationalists descended on Charlottesville for a rally on Saturday.
The violence left the 32-year-old Heyer dead and multiple people injured.The violence left the 32-year-old Heyer dead and multiple people injured.
Graham, of South Carolina, had said on Wednesday that Trump’s rhetoric was “dividing America”.Graham, of South Carolina, had said on Wednesday that Trump’s rhetoric was “dividing America”.
On Thursday, Trump tweeted: “Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists … and people like Ms Heyer. Such a disgusting lie. He just can’t forget his election trouncing. The people of South Carolina will remember!”On Thursday, Trump tweeted: “Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists … and people like Ms Heyer. Such a disgusting lie. He just can’t forget his election trouncing. The people of South Carolina will remember!”
In a separate tweet, Trump accused “the Fake News” of distorting “what I say about hate, bigotry, etc. Shame!”In a separate tweet, Trump accused “the Fake News” of distorting “what I say about hate, bigotry, etc. Shame!”
The president also attacked Republican senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who has become a prominent Trump critic. Over Charlottesville, Flake had said on Twitter: “We can’t accept excuses for white supremacy and acts of domestic terrorism,” he wrote. “We must condemn. Period.” The president also attacked the Republican senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, who has become a prominent Trump critic. Over Charlottesville, Flake had said on Twitter: “We can’t accept excuses for white supremacy and acts of domestic terrorism,” he wrote. “We must condemn. Period.”
Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He's toxic!Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He's toxic!
In his attack on Flake on Thursday, Trump backed Republican Kelli Ward for challenging the incumbent senator in Arizona. In his attack on Flake on Thursday, Trump backed the Republican Kelli Ward in challenging the incumbent senator in Arizona.
Publicity seeking Lindsey Graham falsely stated that I said there is moral equivalency between the KKK, neo-Nazis & white supremacists......
Late Wednesday, Heather Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, gave an emotional and defiant tribute to her daughter in front of 1,200 mourners at a memorial service.Late Wednesday, Heather Heyer’s mother, Susan Bro, gave an emotional and defiant tribute to her daughter in front of 1,200 mourners at a memorial service.
Heyer, who worked as paralegal at local law firm, was allegedly killed by white nationalist James Fields. The 20-year-old rammed his Dodge Challenger into a crowd of anti-fascist protests on Saturday afternoon, sending bodies flying into the air and wounding 19 other people. Heyer, who worked as paralegal at local law firm, was allegedly killed by the white nationalist James Fields. The 20-year-old is accused of ramming his Dodge Challenger into a crowd of anti-hate protesters on Saturday afternoon, sending bodies flying into the air and wounding 19 other people.
“They tried to kill my child to shut her up,” But guess what? You just magnified her,” Bro said. “They tried to kill my child to shut her up. But guess what? You just magnified her,” Bro said.