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Trump Condemns White Supremacy but Doesn’t Propose Gun Laws After Shootings Trump Condemns White Supremacy but Doesn’t Propose Gun Laws After Shootings
(32 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — President Trump forcefully denounced white supremacy in the wake of twin mass shootings over the weekend, citing the threat of “racist hate” with no acknowledgement that his own anti-immigrant rhetoric has become part of a national debate. WASHINGTON — President Trump forcefully denounced white supremacy in the wake of twin mass shootings over the weekend, citing the threat of “racist hate” with no acknowledgment that his own anti-immigrant rhetoric has become part of a national debate.
“In one voice our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy,” Mr. Trump said at the White House. “These sinister ideologies must be defeated.”“In one voice our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy,” Mr. Trump said at the White House. “These sinister ideologies must be defeated.”
But he stopped well short of endorsing the kind of broad gun control measures that activists and Democrats have sought for years, instead falling back on longtime Republican remedies, such as stronger action to address mental illness, violence in the media and violent video games.But he stopped well short of endorsing the kind of broad gun control measures that activists and Democrats have sought for years, instead falling back on longtime Republican remedies, such as stronger action to address mental illness, violence in the media and violent video games.
He warned of “the perils of the internet and social media,” but offered no recognition of his own use of those platforms to promote his brand of divisive politics.He warned of “the perils of the internet and social media,” but offered no recognition of his own use of those platforms to promote his brand of divisive politics.
It remained unclear whether Mr. Trump’s 10-minute remarks, coming after one of the most violent weekends in recent American history, could position him to unify the nation when many Americans hold him responsible for inflaming racial division. He took no responsibility for the atmosphere of division, nor did he recognize his own reluctance to warn of the rise of white nationalism until now. It seemed unlikely that Mr. Trump’s 10-minute remarks, coming after one of the most violent weekends in recent American history, would reposition him as a unifier when many Americans hold him responsible for inflaming racial division. He took no responsibility for the atmosphere of division, nor did he recognize his own reluctance to warn of the rise of white nationalism until now.
Speaking at a lectern beneath a portrait of George Washington in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room, Mr. Trump read from a prepared script on a teleprompter as he denounced the bilious anti-Hispanic online manifesto of a shooter in El Paso, who killed 22 people on Saturday as part of an “evil contagion” spreading online. Speaking at a lectern beneath a portrait of George Washington in the White House’s Diplomatic Reception Room, Mr. Trump read from a prepared script on a teleprompter as he denounced the bilious anti-Hispanic online manifesto of a shooter in El Paso, Texas, who killed 22 people on Saturday as part of an “evil contagion” spreading online.
“These barbaric slaughters are an assault upon our communities, an attack upon our nation and a crime against all of humanity,” Mr. Trump said of the massacre in El Paso and another in Dayton, Ohio, on Sunday — at one point incorrectly referring to Toledo as the site of those killings. “These barbaric slaughters are an assault upon our communities, an attack upon our nation and a crime against all of humanity,” Mr. Trump said of the massacre in El Paso and another in Dayton, Ohio, on Sunday — at one point incorrectly referring to Toledo as the site of those killings. The Dayton shooter is not known to have had a political motive.
Between the two massacres, 31 people have now died.Between the two massacres, 31 people have now died.
Mr. Trump took no questions, and did not repeat his call on Twitter earlier in the morning for Republicans and Democrats to work together to strengthen background checks for prospective gun buyers.Mr. Trump took no questions, and did not repeat his call on Twitter earlier in the morning for Republicans and Democrats to work together to strengthen background checks for prospective gun buyers.
That outraged Democratic leaders in Congress, who quickly accused Mr. Trump of retreating from more substantive action on gun control under political pressure.That outraged Democratic leaders in Congress, who quickly accused Mr. Trump of retreating from more substantive action on gun control under political pressure.
“It took less than three hours for the president to back off his call for stronger background check legislation,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, said in a statement. House Democrats passed such a measure in February, but the Republican-controlled Senate has not acted on it.“It took less than three hours for the president to back off his call for stronger background check legislation,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leader, said in a statement. House Democrats passed such a measure in February, but the Republican-controlled Senate has not acted on it.
Mr. Trump’s first comments, made in early morning Twitter posts, set some gun control advocates up for disappointment.Mr. Trump’s first comments, made in early morning Twitter posts, set some gun control advocates up for disappointment.
In his somber remarks, Mr. Trump repeated his past endorsement of so-called red flag laws that would allow for the confiscation of firearms from people found to be mentally ill. He gave no indication of how he would pursue any of his goals. In his somber remarks, Mr. Trump repeated his past endorsement of so-called “red flag” laws that would allow for the confiscation of firearms from people found to be mentally ill and said mental health laws should be changed to allow for the involuntary confinement of people at risk of committing violence. He gave no indication of how he would pursue any of his goals.
It was not immediately clear what other gun control proposals Mr. Trump was referring to on Twitter. The House passed back-to-back bills on firearms soon after it Democrats took control, voting in February to require background checks for all gun purchasers, including those at gun shows and on the internet, and to extend waiting periods for would-be gun purchasers flagged by the existing instant-check system. It was not immediately clear what other gun control proposals Mr. Trump was referring to on Twitter. The House passed back-to-back bills on firearms soon after it Democrats took control, voting in February to require background checks for all gun purchasers, including those at gun shows and on the internet, and to extend waiting periods for would-be gun purchasers flagged by the existing instant-check system. The Republican-controlled Senate has not acted on either measure.
Instead of focusing on measures to limit the sale of firearms, Mr. Trump ticked through a list of proposals that Republicans have long endorsed as alternatives. They include unspecified action to address “gruesome and grisly video games” and “a culture that celebrates violence.”Instead of focusing on measures to limit the sale of firearms, Mr. Trump ticked through a list of proposals that Republicans have long endorsed as alternatives. They include unspecified action to address “gruesome and grisly video games” and “a culture that celebrates violence.”
Mr. Trump also warned that the internet and social media provide “a dangerous avenue to radicalize disturbed minds and perform demented acts.” But the president has himself drawn intense criticism for amplifying right-wing voices online with histories of racism and bigotry. Shortly before the shooting began in El Paso on Saturday, Mr. Trump retweeted Katie Hopkins, a right-wing British political commentator who has said Islam “disgusts” her and urged her fellow citizens to “arm ourselves” to “fight back” against foreign infiltration. Mr. Trump also warned that the internet and social media provide “a dangerous avenue to radicalize disturbed minds and perform demented acts.” But the president has himself amplified right-wing voices online with histories of racism and bigotry. Shortly before the shooting began in El Paso on Saturday, Mr. Trump retweeted Katie Hopkins, a right-wing British political commentator who has said Islam “disgusts” her and has urged her fellow citizens to “arm ourselves” to “fight back” against foreign infiltration.
Mr. Trump also emphasized steps to better identify and respond to signs of mental illness that could lead to violence, repeating a familiar conservative formulation that de-emphasizes the significance of widely available firearms.Mr. Trump also emphasized steps to better identify and respond to signs of mental illness that could lead to violence, repeating a familiar conservative formulation that de-emphasizes the significance of widely available firearms.
“Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun,” Mr. Trump said. Calling mass shooters “mentally ill monsters,” he also said he was directing the Department of Justice to propose legislation calling for the death penalty for “those who commit hate crimes and mass murders.”“Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun,” Mr. Trump said. Calling mass shooters “mentally ill monsters,” he also said he was directing the Department of Justice to propose legislation calling for the death penalty for “those who commit hate crimes and mass murders.”
Senator Pat Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, who has long advocated for stronger background checks legislation, praised what he called a shift in tone for the president. On a conference call with reporters, Mr. Toomey called for reviving his background check bill, which failed in the Senate in 2013. He said he had spoken Monday morning to Mr. Trump and that the president also expressed “a very constructive willingness to engage on this issue.” Senator Pat Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, praised what he called a shift in tone for the president. On a conference call with reporters, Mr. Toomey said he had spoken Monday morning to Mr. Trump and that the president also expressed “a very constructive willingness to engage on” the issue of expanded background checks, long championed by the senator.
Mr. Trump delivered the remarks at the White House after a weekend at his golf resort in Bedminster, N.J., where he was thinly staffed as the weekend’s news unfolded. Isolated and surfing the news, Mr. Trump tweeted several expressions of sympathy, along with more combative shots at the news media and his liberal critics. Mr. Trump delivered the remarks at the White House after a weekend at his golf resort in Bedminster, N.J., where he was thinly staffed as the weekend’s news unfolded. Perusing the news in isolation, Mr. Trump tweeted several expressions of sympathy, along with more combative shots at the media and his liberal critics.
By Sunday night, when his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner joined him for his return to Washington, Mr. Trump’s aides recognized that he needed to do more. Some advisers suggested that background checks would be an easy, bipartisan measure to endorse, but Mr. Trump was uncertain. When a draft of his Monday morning remarks began circulating on Sunday night, they did not mention background checks, according to two people briefed on them. By Sunday night, when his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner joined him for his return to Washington, Mr. Trump’s aides recognized that he needed to do more. Some advisers suggested that background checks would be an easy, bipartisan measure to endorse, but Mr. Trump was uncertain. When early drafts of his remarks began circulating, they did not mention background checks or immigration, according to two people briefed on them.
A new version Monday morning did not mention background checks or immigration, those people said. So aides were startled to discover that the president, sitting in the White House residence, had posted a tweet linking the two issues. So aides were startled to discover that the president, sitting in the White House residence, had posted a tweet linking the two issues.
A string of meetings followed, including one with a small group of aides in the residence, ahead of the speech. Most aides argued the linkage was a mistake, and the president dropped both the immigration idea and the call for background checks. In a small meeting with Mr. Trump in his residence ahead of the speech, several aides argued the linkage was a mistake, and the president dropped both the immigration idea and the call for background checks.
Gun control groups reacted sharply to Mr. Trump’s address.Gun control groups reacted sharply to Mr. Trump’s address.
“Let’s be clear: This is not about mental health, it’s not about video games, it’s not about movies. Those are all N.R.A. talking points. This is about easy access to guns,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control group.“Let’s be clear: This is not about mental health, it’s not about video games, it’s not about movies. Those are all N.R.A. talking points. This is about easy access to guns,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun control group.
Mr. Trump has previously denounced racism with scripted marks that sounded out of tune with his typical rhetoric. After the killing of a counterprotester at a white power rally in Charlottesville, Va., two years ago, he appeared at the White House to declare, “Racism is evil.” Mr. Trump called white supremacists “repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.” Mr. Trump has previously denounced racism with scripted marks that sounded out of tune with his typical rhetoric. After the killing of a counterprotester at a white power rally in Charlottesville, Va., two years ago, he called white supremacists “repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.”
But those remarks followed earlier off-the-cuff comments by the president, who had been criticized for not more forcefully denouncing the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville organized by neo-Nazis. Instead he condemned “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.” Mr. Trump later declared that the event had “some very fine people on both sides.”But those remarks followed earlier off-the-cuff comments by the president, who had been criticized for not more forcefully denouncing the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville organized by neo-Nazis. Instead he condemned “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides.” Mr. Trump later declared that the event had “some very fine people on both sides.”
Aides said he was referring to nonviolent protesters defending southern heritage, and that he was angry the news media had not paid more attention to left-wing Antifa activists who engaged in violence. Aides said he was referring to nonviolent protesters defending southern heritage, and that he was angry the media had not paid more attention to left-wing Antifa activists who engaged in violence.
In March, after an avowed white supremacist killed 51 Muslim worshipers in New Zealand, Mr. Trump said he did not “really” see a rising threat from white nationalism. “It’s a small group of people,” he added.In March, after an avowed white supremacist killed 51 Muslim worshipers in New Zealand, Mr. Trump said he did not “really” see a rising threat from white nationalism. “It’s a small group of people,” he added.
The president has also previously declared himself a supporter of stronger gun control, only to retreat from the issue. After a gunman killed 17 at a high school in Parkland, Fla., last year, Mr. Trump tweeted that he would be “strongly pushing Comprehensive Background Checks with an emphasis on Mental Health.” The president has also previously declared himself a supporter of stronger gun control, only to retreat from the issue. After a gunman killed 17 at a high school in Parkland, Fla., last year, Mr. Trump startled Republican lawmakers that February when on live television, he appeared to embrace comprehensive gun control legislation that would expand background checks, keep guns from mentally ill people and restrict gun sales for some young adults.
He startled Republican lawmakers that February when on live television, he appeared to embrace comprehensive gun control legislation that would expand background checks to weapons purchased at gun shows and on the internet, keep guns from mentally ill people, secure schools and restrict gun sales for some young adults. He even suggested a conversation on an assault weapons ban.
But he made little effort to follow through.But he made little effort to follow through.
The congressional vote to close the so-called Charleston loophole, a gap in the background check system that allowed a man to buy the gun used to kill nine black members of a church in Charleston, S.C., was specifically tied to a white supremacist who obtained a gun despite a previous admission of drug possession. In Texas, law enforcement officials arrested Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old white man from Allen, Texas, which is about a 10-hour drive from the Walmart in El Paso where he opened fire on Saturday. In the manifesto, Mr. Crusius said he supported mass shootings in two New Zealand mosques.
But Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader, has given no indication that the measures would be taken up in the Republican-controlled Senate. On Monday, Senator Chuck Schumer, the minority leader, urged Mr. Trump to demand that Mr. McConnell put the universal background check measure up for a vote in the Senate. His statement with Ms. Pelosi pointedly noted that Mr. McConnell, who takes pride in smothering Democratic legislation in his chamber, has referred to himself as the “grim reaper” of House bills. The gunman in Dayton, Connor Betts, 24, fired on popular night-life spot with a high-capacity magazine that can hold 100 rounds of ammunition. Nine people were killed, including Mr. Betts’s sister.
Neither House proposal was attached to immigration legislation, which has proved as intractable as gun control. The House has already approved immigration legislation that would offer a path to citizenship for more than 2 million undocumented immigrants — including the so-called Dreamers, who were brought to this country illegally as children. Some of the Democrats campaigning for their party’s presidential nomination condemned Mr. Trump for not calling the El Paso attack a white supremacist act of domestic terrorism and blamed the White House for fueling white nationalist sentiment.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved very different immigration legislation last week to greatly tighten rules for asylum seekers along the lines Mr. Trump has requested. No federal agency is responsible for designating domestic terrorism organizations, as it has for international terrorism. Similarly, there is no criminal charge of domestic terrorism, and suspects who are by definition considered domestic terrorists are charged under other laws, such as hate crime, gun and conspiracy statutes.
In Texas, law enforcement officials arrested Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old white man from Allen, Tex., which is about a 10-hour drive from the Walmart in El Paso where he opened fire on Saturday and killed 22 people.
In the manifesto, Mr. Crusius said he supported mass shootings in two New Zealand mosques this year that killed 51 people. In March, after the New Zealand shootings, Mr. Trump said he did not see white nationalism as a rising global threat.
Early Sunday in Dayton, Ohio, police killed the gunman within one minute of hearing shots fired into a popular night-life spot in the city. The gunman, Connor Betts, 24, was wearing a mask, body armor and hearing protection and was carrying a high-capacity magazine that can hold 100 rounds of ammunition. Nine people were killed, including Mr. Betts’s sister.
Congress has been gripped by inaction on gun violence for years, and with Democrats running the House and Republicans in charge of the Senate, that is unlikely to change soon.
Over the weekend, members of both parties retreated to their familiar stances. Republicans issued statements praising law enforcement and raising concerns about mental health issues, and Democrats called for the Senate to return to pass the House bills. Lawmakers in both parties have left Washington for their August recess and do not plan to return to the Capitol until September.
“This is a time that demands not words but actions,” Representative David Cicilline, Democrat of Rhode Island and a member of House Democratic leadership, said in a statement, in which he called not only for the Senate to return but the House as well, so that it could consider an assault weapons ban, which he introduced earlier this year.
Representative Steve Scalise, the No. 2 Republican in the House, is still recovering from gunshot wounds he sustained in 2017 when a gunman opened fire during practice for a congressional baseball game. Mr. Scalise said the weekend shootings should be called “domestic terrorism,” but he also blamed the media, saying that “a media culture that encourages viewing people solely through hyperpartisan lenses,” can “often lead to violent consequences.”
Senator Susan Collins of Maine, one of a handful of Republican centrists in the Senate, already faced a tough re-election race should she choose to run again. On Sunday, she issued a statement saying, “We have united in the wake of tragedies in the past, and we can do so again to stop this violence.” She is one of only two Republicans left in the Senate who voted for a background check bill almost identical to the one passed this year by the House, and said Sunday that she had long supported “closing loopholes” in such checks.
But passage of such legislation in the Senate would take enormous political pressure — and probably Mr. Trump’s pushing. The bill, written by Senators Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, and Patrick J. Toomey, Republican of Pennsylvania, after the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, fell to a filibuster in 2013. Since then nine of the Democrats who voted for the measure have been replaced by Republicans.
Some of the Democrats campaigning for the party’s nomination to run for president condemned Mr. Trump for not calling the El Paso attack a white supremacist act of domestic terrorism. Some Democrats blame the White House for what they suggested was a tolerance for white nationalist groups, something that was not common among Mr. Trump’s recent predecessors.
In another Twitter post on Monday, the president railed against the news media, blaming it for the contributing to “the anger and rage” in the United States.
Still, no federal agency is responsible for designating domestic terrorism organizations, as it has for international terrorism. Similarly, there is no criminal charge of domestic terrorism, and suspects who are by definition considered domestic terrorists are charged under other laws, such as hate crime, gun and conspiracy statutes.
According to F.B.I. statistics, there have been eight mass shootings in the United States since 2017, in which the shooters espoused white supremacist views.According to F.B.I. statistics, there have been eight mass shootings in the United States since 2017, in which the shooters espoused white supremacist views.