This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-donald-trump-charlottesville-uk-foreign-secretary-us-president-neo-nazi-violence-a7911666.html
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Boris Johnson: Donald Trump got it 'totally wrong' on Charlottesville, says UK Foreign Secretary | Boris Johnson: Donald Trump got it 'totally wrong' on Charlottesville, says UK Foreign Secretary |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Donald Trump “got it totally wrong” in his response to the Charlottesville, Virginia, riots, Boris Johnson has said. | |
It was a “great shame” the President was unable to distinguish between neo-Nazis and anti-fascist protesters, the Foreign Secretary said. | |
Mr Johnson also hinted strongly that Mr Trump’s state visit to the UK would take place next year. | |
He told BBC Radio Four’s Today programme: “I thought he got it totally wrong and I thought it was a great shame that he failed to make a clear and fast distinction, which we all are able to make, between fascists and anti-fascists, between Nazis and anti-Nazis.” | |
The state visit was more likely to happen next year than this, he added. | The state visit was more likely to happen next year than this, he added. |
Mr Trump first blamed “many sides” for the violence that erupted in Charlottesville two weeks ago, when white supremacists marched on the town to take part in a “Unite the Right” rally. | |
In a later statement he singled out the neo-Nazi and other racist elements but, in further, impromptu remarks at Trump Tower, returned to condemning “both sides” for the fighting. | |
His words drew widespread criticism, including from fellow Republicans. | His words drew widespread criticism, including from fellow Republicans. |
At a campaign-style rally in Phoenix, Arizona, this week, Mr Trump said his response had been misrepresented by “damned dishonest” journalists. | |
He re-read parts of his statements on Charlottesville to prove he had condemned the racism on show, and told supporters: “The - and I mean truly dishonest people in the media and the fake media, they make up stories. | |
“They have no sources in many cases. They say “a source says”—there is no such thing. But they don’t report the facts. | |
“Just like they don’t want to report that I spoke out forcefully against hatred, bigotry and violence and strongly condemned the neo-Nazis, the White Supremacists, and the KKK. | |
“I openly called for unity, healing and love, and they know it because they were all there.” |