U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who came under fire for his reluctance to condemn violent nationalists, finally stated on Monday that racist views of white supremacists are “evil.”
“Those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the K.K.K., neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans,” the president stated.
Mr. Trump’s earlier tepid response to violent rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia on Saturday has drawn sharp criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
The president fully condemned white supremacists for the clashes after facing mounting public pressure to describe events “for what they are.”
“Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America,” he said.
In his initial statement, the president condemned “egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides.”