President Donald Trump is now blaming "both sides" for the violence that ensued over the weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.
"I think there is blame on both sides," Trump charged at reporters during a news conference Tuesday afternoon in the lobby of Trump Tower. "What about the alt-left that came charging at, as you say, the alt-right? Do they have any semblance of guilt? What about the fact they came charging with clubs in hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do."
"You had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent," he continued. "Nobody wants to say it, but I will say it right now."
Obama Just Did Something Twitterer-in-Chief Trump Is Going to Hate
View StoryPOTUS referred to the man who drove his car into the crowd of protesters -- which killed one woman and injured several others -- a "murderer," before proceeding to blame "both sides" for the violence.
"You can call it terrorism, you can call it murder. You can call it whatever you want," he said. "The driver of the car is a murderer and what he did was a horrible, horrible, inexcusable thing."
Trump also defended his two-day delay in condemning the white supremacists, telling reporters he didn't want to speak before knowing all the facts, "unlike most politicians."
Late-Night Hosts Get Serious to Bash Trump's Response to Nazis in Charlottesville
View Story"I didn't wait long. I didn't wait long. I wanted to make sure -- unlike most politicians -- that what I said was correct, not make a quick statement," he said. "The statement I made on Saturday, the first statement, was a fine statement, but you don't make statements that direct until you know the facts. It takes a little while to get the facts. You still don't know the facts and it is a very, very important process to me. It is a very important statement."
Hollywood Rips Trump for 2-Day Delay Denouncing White Supremacists
View StoryTrump addressed the riots twice before today.
This was his stance on Saturday:
"What is vital now is a swift restoration of law and order and the protection of innocent lives. We must remember this truth: No matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are all Americans first."
This was his stance on Monday:
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides. It has been going on for a long time in our country -- not Donald Trump, not Barack Obama. It has been going on for a long, long time. It has no place in America. We have so many incredible things happening in our country, so when I watch Charlottesville, to me it is very, very sad. No matter our color, creed, religion or political party, we are all Americans first. We love our country, we love our God, we love our flag, we are proud of our country, we are proud of who we are. So we want to get this situation straightened out in Charlottesville and we want to study it, and we want to see what we are doing wrong as a country where things like this can happen."
Celebrities like Mandy Moore, Chris Evans and John Mayer were quick to bash the president for the backpedaling once again, and more Twitter reactions on are sure to pour in.
Bones can't be racist. Why do people say "he doesn't have a racist bone in his body". What about his brain, tongue and vocal cords?
@johnlegend
OMG. What did we just watch? He blamed the anti-racism protesters. He likened George Washington to Robert E. Lee. Donald. Trump. Fuck. You.
@MMFlint
One good thing about that abomination of a speech: it's now impossible for any Trump supporter to pretend they don't know what he is.
@jk_rowling
It's still hard for me to believe so many people voted for this idiot. This is your fault too.
@johnlegend
Join @MMFlint, me, and others at Trump Tower tonight at 9:30 for a vigil in solidarity with Charlottesville victims. https://t.co/fJJYxYQMDe
@MarkRuffalo
I need a drink. I don't drink
@questlove
*Putin reaches for Viagra*
@kumailn
*on tv, Trump presser starts*
*Putin smiles.*
"I will not be needing this today."
*Putin closes medicine cabinet*
.@realDonaldTrump, you are embarrassing our country and the millions of Americans who fought and died to defeat Nazism.
@SenSanders
I'm gonna go see the new Annabelle movie just to watch a less evil entity on a screen.
@kumailn
lol he is such a fucking idiot lol lol lol lol I know it's serious but holy shit lol he's totally lost it
@chrissyteigen
Trump is like, actually racist. He isn't "saying the wrong thing". He is actually racist and means this. Holy shit lol what a fucking idiot
@chrissyteigen
Impeach this bad man. https://t.co/yZiSnY7boD
@Lin_Manuel
Lmao the way he gestures 🖐🏽 every time is literally the sign for "shut the fuck up I'm trying to hide something" https://t.co/sVx1iR6aG5
@NyleDiMarco
so @IvankaTrump - what do u have to say now about ur NAZI father ...
@Rosie
While we're at it, can we also talk about the shitty marble and gold?
@Andy
I haven't seen anything that crazy since Tyson bit Holyfield @realDonaldTrump
@jimmykimmel
There's not even enough room in my body for these feelings. https://t.co/gPuWmZah0n
@emmyrossum
When it comes to love, kindness, acceptance and progress, I believe there is only one side.
@TheEllenShow
Today is the day Donald Trump became president of the Confederate States of America
@JamieMcCarty
I can NOT believe what I'm watching on television right now. How is this man our president? Honestly?
@TheMandyMoore
The President just sided with racists
@MiaFarrow
Holy fucking shit. He took it all back and defended the Nazis. This is the most insane thing I've ever seen. https://t.co/IU4EvGxFKw
@Nick_Wechsler
Is anyone else watching this?!? Wow...it's like watching a train wreck!! 'Before I make a statement I need the facts'?! Since when??
@ChrisEvans
Wow. Wow. Wow.
@ChrisEvans
This is insane.
@ChrisEvans
That press conference kinda just blew up my brain. Everyone should watch that entire thing from beginning to end. It's truly shocking.
@ChrisEvans
His brain just isn't good enough.
@ChrisEvans
To every member of the #GOP ponder Burke for a second. "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" #resist
@driverminnie
Fuck this guy. He has such passion for all of the evil corrupt people on this planet. Never any rage at the murderers. No compassion. https://t.co/5OCUBFZdQx
@JuddApatow
What...the...FUCK is happening in our country? Our president just...sided...with...Nazis and white nationalists. Holy. FUCK https://t.co/YJzAQBUJgp
@pattonoswalt
You watch breathlessly, your mouth open. Your heart races, and your reality feels as if it's being distorted before your very eyes.
@JohnMayer
You attempt to counter something you can't believe you've just heard, but you have to drop it in exchange for another incoming offense.
@JohnMayer
You're listening to your president speak.
@JohnMayer
It's as if his head is made of glass. And you can see through it all of the flashes of horrible, corrupt thinking. You're sure now.
@JohnMayer
You've been sure it was bad. Now you're sure it's impossible.
@JohnMayer
The infrastructure that will be remembered today is the one the people will build so that we all become the president that this man is not.
@JohnMayer
My condolences to all the other late night writers and hosts out there who just had to throw away tonight's monologue and start over.
@mollymcnearney
Delete Your Job. "The press has treated white nationalists unfairly" Fuck You @realDonaldTrump Fuck You, you, Sick, Nasty Filthy Ass.
@loripetty
Sound the alarm. This country is on fire. And the arsonist is the President.
@joshgad
"Not all of those people were white supremacists by any stretch." pic.twitter.com/plAKJDqrhC
@maddow
OMG. What did we just watch? He blamed the anti-racism protesters. He likened George Washington to Robert E. Lee. Donald. Trump. Fuck. You.
@MMFlint
I think we've reached that point in the movie, where we realize... the killer is inside the house. #TRUMPNAZI
@aasif
I feel like... I don't know what I feel anymore. Shock. Been there. Disgust. Done that. Rage. Ongoing. This is bizarre and revolting. https://t.co/M5NPikKHSf
@ava