Some in the national media found fault with President Trump’s Monday statement that condemned racism, even after many in the press were demanding a more detailed address from Trump.
“Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists,” Trump said in a five-minute statement at the White House. He spoke after issuing a statement Saturday about the violence in Charlottesville, Va., that didn’t specify any of those groups, which led to criticism from both Republicans and Democrats over the weekend.
But some journalists said the remarks, which Trump read off a teleprompter, were still inadequate.
On Twitter, CNBC’s John Harwood called Trump’s comments “grudging” and “bare minimum,” and said Trump gave “no indication he was feeling the words he was reading.”
Roger Simon, a political columnist for Politico, said, “Trump makes nothing-burger statement and then flees room without taking questions.”
CNN White House correspondent Jim Acosta also took issue with Trump delivering the statement without taking questions.
“Trump did not take questions,” he said. “He was asked by reporters why he waited so long to condemn hate groups. He did not respond.”
A New York Times article suggested that Trump’s remarks were given with some reluctance, saying that he only rebuked the hate groups after having “bowed to overwhelming pressure.”
