SAY IT: People Beg Trump To Clearly Denounce White Supremacy

Carla Herreria and Marina Fang
Updated

President Donald Trump had a chance to explicitly denounce white supremacy and racism on Saturday after violence broke out at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, leaving three dead ― one 32-year-old woman, who was struck by a car, and two state troopers, whose helicopter crashed outside the city while they were responding to the situation ― and at least 35 others injured.

But instead of specifically criticizing members of the Ku Klux Klan, the white supremacists or the neo-Nazis who brought torches and bats to the rally, Trump blamed the unrest on “many sides.”

In fact, Trump commented on the fighting in Charlottesville several times on Saturday ― on Twitter and in front of the press ― but none of his remarks named the violence for what it was: a fight over white supremacy.

So people did it for him.

Celebrities, citizens and politicians from both sides of the aisle slammed Trump for failing to condemn the obvious and dropping the ball on moral leadership.

While Trump failed to publicly decry violent racists on Saturday, other conservative political figures said exactly what the president would not.

Even former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci argued that the president’s remarks were ill-advised, telling ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday that Trump should have been “much harsher as it relates to the white supremacists.”

By Sunday, Trump aides and White House officials — while defending the president — attempted to make clear that his remarks were, at least in part, meant to denounce the extremist groups that precipitated Saturday’s violence.

“When he condemned bigotry on all sides, that includes white supremacists and neo-Nazis,” national security adviser H.R. McMaster said on NBC’s “Meet The Press.” “I think it’s clear, and I know it’s clear, in his mind, and ought to be clear to all Americans.”

The White House later released an official statement indicating the same sentiment.

“The President said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry, and hatred. Of course that includes white supremacists, KKK Neo-Nazi and all extremist groups. He called for national unity and bringing all Americans together,” the full statement read.

Yet, it was attributed to an unnamed spokesperson and still did not come from Trump himself.

This article has been updated with comments from Trump aides and White House officials.

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Neo-Nazis and white supremacists encircle and chant at counter-protesters at the base of a Thomas Jefferson statue on Aug. 11, 2017, after marching with torches through the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Neo-Nazis and white supremacists encircle and chant at counter-protesters at the base of a Thomas Jefferson statue on Aug. 11, 2017, after marching with torches through the University of Virginia campus in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Neo-Nazis and white supremacists take part in the "Unite the Right" rally.
Neo-Nazis and white supremacists take part in the "Unite the Right" rally.
The group marched through the University of Virginia campus with torches.
The group marched through the University of Virginia campus with torches.
A man wears Nazi regalia before the "Unite the Right" rally.
A man wears Nazi regalia before the "Unite the Right" rally.
Counter-protesters arrive at the "Unite the Right" rally.
Counter-protesters arrive at the "Unite the Right" rally.
White supremacists carry Nazi flags on Aug. 12, 2017.
White supremacists carry Nazi flags on Aug. 12, 2017.
A white supremacist carries the Confederate flag as he walks past counter-demonstrators.
A white supremacist carries the Confederate flag as he walks past counter-demonstrators.
White nationalists march through the street.
White nationalists march through the street.
A sign on a business in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia.
A sign on a business in downtown Charlottesville, Virginia.
Police arrive at the scene of protests after a state of emergency is announced in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Police arrive at the scene of protests after a state of emergency is announced in Charlottesville, Virginia.
A man is down during a clash between white nationalist protesters and a group of counter-protesters.
A man is down during a clash between white nationalist protesters and a group of counter-protesters.
White nationalists and counter-protesters clash.
White nationalists and counter-protesters clash.
A protester receives first-aid during a clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
A protester receives first-aid during a clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
A man makes a slashing motion across his throat toward counter-protesters as he marches with other white nationalists and neo-Nazis during the "Unite the Right" rally.
A man makes a slashing motion across his throat toward counter-protesters as he marches with other white nationalists and neo-Nazis during the "Unite the Right" rally.
A white supremacist stands behind militia members after he scuffled with a counter-demonstrator.
A white supremacist stands behind militia members after he scuffled with a counter-demonstrator.
Virginia State Police use pepper spray as they move in during a clash between white nationalist protesters and counter-protesters.
Virginia State Police use pepper spray as they move in during a clash between white nationalist protesters and counter-protesters.
Hundreds of white nationalists and neo-Nazis march down East Market Street toward Lee Park during the "Unite the Right" rally.
Hundreds of white nationalists and neo-Nazis march down East Market Street toward Lee Park during the "Unite the Right" rally.
A smoke bomb is thrown at a group of counter-protesters.
A smoke bomb is thrown at a group of counter-protesters.
Virginia State Troopers stand under a statue of Robert E. Lee. White nationalists descended on Charlottesville to protest the statue's removal.
Virginia State Troopers stand under a statue of Robert E. Lee. White nationalists descended on Charlottesville to protest the statue's removal.
Anti-fascist counter-protesters wait outside Lee Park to hurl insults as white nationalists and neo-Nazis are forced out after the "Unite the Right" rally was declared an unlawful gathering.
Anti-fascist counter-protesters wait outside Lee Park to hurl insults as white nationalists and neo-Nazis are forced out after the "Unite the Right" rally was declared an unlawful gathering.
A group of counter-protesters rally against white nationalists.
A group of counter-protesters rally against white nationalists.
A man is seen with an injury during a clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
A man is seen with an injury during a clash between white nationalists and counter-protesters.
Protesters and counter-protesters after being pepper-sprayed and/or maced.
Protesters and counter-protesters after being pepper-sprayed and/or maced.
David Duke (C), participates in the white nationalist rally.
David Duke (C), participates in the white nationalist rally.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.