A local take on Trump’s response to Charlottesville violence
A frustrated and maligned president stepped to the podium for the third time in 4 days and once again his remarks were met with criticism.
"The statement I made on Saturday the first statement was a fine statement."
Criticism of the president started just hours after three people died in Charlottesville, the result of a violent clash between white nationalists and counter-protestors when during his initial press conference he failed to denounce white nationalism.
"Before I make a statement I need the facts, so I don't wanna rush into a statement," said Trump during Tuesday's press conference.
But a wealth of knowledge, new facts, have done little to stifle the backlash and many say the President's desire to fault both sides is largely to blame.
"You had some very bad people in that group but you also had people that were very fine people on both sides, but you had many people in that group other than neo-nazis and white nationalist okay and the press has treated them absolutely unfairly," said Trump.
Local politicians were quick to jump on social media and weigh-in on the President's comments.
Delaware US Sen.Tom Carper says, "Those of us who have been elected to serve the American people have an even greater responsibility to show leadership in trying times like these. The president's failure to do so is beyond shameful."
Virginia US Sen. Tim Kaine was also critical.
"You have to be peaceful when you make your voice known and that's very, very important, but the president's confusion in an attempt to suggest there's an equivalence um who were the left running down on automobiles you know that he couldn't see to call out," explains Sen. Kaine.
Meanwhile 47 ABC took to Facebook to seek out local reaction to the President's latest statement.
Randy saying, "When he's right he's spot on both side share the blame. It takes two to fight." Another viewer, Vanessa, saying, "I don't believe he meant some neo-nazi's are good, but rather that some people were solely there to protest the removal of the monuments and have been lumped in w the white supremist."
Meanwhile, Janet adding, "It doesn't matter who started what! The point is we the American people have fought and lost lives to rid our world of just ignorance that white nationalist, KKK, Nazi propaganda represents!"
