President Donald Trump addressed a crowd in Phoenix, Ariz., in a campaign style rally Tuesday night, where he continued to condemn any form of racism and violence and criticized the media for their coverage of his statements on the subject.
During his first trip to Arizona as president, Trump ripped the media for their recent coverage of his statements concerning the violence that occurred during white nationalist protests in Charlottesville, Va.
“What happened in Charlottesville strikes at the core of America. And tonight, this entire arena stands united against the thugs who perpetrate hatred and violence,” Trump told the crowd at the Phoenix Convention Center.
“I strongly condemn neo-Nazis, white Supremacists and the KKK,” he added.
Trump pulled out a list from his suit pocket with all of the statements he has made since the events in Charlottesville.
“Here’s what I said,” Trump opened. “‘We’re closely following the terrible events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia. This is me speaking. ‘We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence.’ That’s me speaking on Saturday right after the events. So I’m condemning the strongest possible terms … egregious display of hatred, bigotry, violence.’”
Many in the media and in politics have continued to scrutinize Trump for his original statement on the Charlottesville protests and believe he should have called out white supremacist groups specifically. The next day Trump added clarity to his original statement saying he was strongly against the white supremacists, Neo-nazis, and the Klu Klux Klan.
Trump has held several rallies while in office, with his most recent in Youngstown, Ohio on July 25. He has also held rallies as president in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Melbourne, Fla., Harrisburg, Pa., Louisville, Ky., and Nashville, Tenn.
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