President Donald Trump on Monday said “racism is evil” and that anyone who causes violence in its name are “criminals and thugs.”
It was the president’s strongest reaction yet to the violence that erupted in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend that resulted in the death of a protester and two Virginia state troopers.
However, Trump began the hastily called press conference in Washington by first touting the success of his efforts with the economy, citing the stock market, the creation of “1 million jobs since I took office,” and a 16-year low in unemployment.
Then Trump pivoted to Charlottesville, saying he had met with new FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and that they are opening a civil rights investigation into the events that led to violent clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters and, ultimately, the death of Heather Heyer, a white protester.
“Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans,” Trump said at a Monday press conference. full story