There’s a reason why it was necessary for President Donald Trump to denounce specifically and unequivocally the white nationalists whose demonstration last weekend in Virginia became violent—not the “many sides” who were also protesting, or violence in general. It’s true there were left-wing counter-protesters who were also violent and antagonistic in Charlottesville. It’s true that political violence is wrong, no matter who perpetuates it. It’s true that the poisonous culture did not begin with Donald Trump’s entry into national politics.
But this is also true: White nationalists, neo-Nazis, Klansmen, and other racist groups who marched through the University of Virginia’s campus and in Charlottesville last weekend did so because they have been empowered by the presidency of Donald Trump. Don’t take my word for it. Look at the photos of those wearing “Make America Great Again” hats in Charlottesville. Listen to the words of arch-racist David Duke, who said his goal in attending the Charlottesville event was to “fulfill the promises of Donald Trump.” Remember that one of the rally’s organizers, chief alt-rightist Richard Spencer, once said his movement has a “psychic connection” with Trump. Scroll through the countless Twitter accounts with swastikas and racist memes posted in between or alongside statements of support for Trump’s candidacy and presidency.
Given all this, Trump has a duty—as the president of the United States, as the head of a major political party, as a decent American—to make clear that these people are mistaken, that white supremacists and neo-Nazis have nothing in common with Trump’s agenda or his vision for the country. It does no good to say, in the same breath, that “both sides” are a part of the problem. The problem is that one side, the violent, racist side, believes they have an ally in the White House. And they have increasingly good reason to think that.
Trump had failed to forcefully disavow racist groups like the KKK during the campaign, most notably when David Duke endorsed him. He had so far not done so as president, but the Charlottesville rally, which culminated in the violent death of a counter-protester by the act of a white supremacist, gave him the plum opportunity to right this wrong. He equivocated on Saturday with his initial statement, stating “many sides” were to blame for the violence. Eliana Johnson at Politico reported that this line was ad-libbed, a deviation from the prepared text that was “similar in tone and substance” to a follow-up statement Trump made Monday. That statement did specifically call out the white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and KKK by name. It wasn’t perfect and it was done under duress, but Trump seemed to be moving toward saying the right thing.
But at a Trump Tower press conference, ostensibly to tout an infrastructure executive order, the president undid all this. A reporter asked why he waited so long—about two days after Saturday’s events—to denounce the neo-Nazis in Charlottesville. Trump defended his initial statement on Saturday, calling it “fine” and saying multiple times he wanted to know the “facts” before saying too much. (Never mind that it was clear, from photos and video of the Charlottesville events on Friday and Saturday that participants were waving Nazi flags and chanting Nazi-adopted slogans.)
Pressed about the alt-right’s participation in the Charlottesville rally and the movement’s links to attacks on his national security adviser, Trump pushed back, asking “what about the alt-left” and its guilt in instigating the violence. “You had a group on the other side that was also very violent,” Trump said. “And nobody wants to say that, but I’ll say it right now.” (Never mind that it was an alt-righter who drove into the crowd and killed one person and injured several others.)
Trump excused anyone marching in Charlottesville who were not neo-Nazis or white supremacists. “Those people were also there, because they wanted to protest the taking down of a statue Robert E. Lee,” he said. “Many of those people were there to protest the taking down of the statue of Robert E. Lee. So this week, it’s Robert E. Lee, I noticed that Stonewall Jackson’s coming down. I wonder, is it George Washington next week? And is it Thomas Jefferson the week after. You know, you really do have to ask yourself, where does it stop?”
He offered that there were “very fine people on both sides” of the protests Saturday and insisted not everyone marching alongside the swastika banners and chanting anti-Semitic and white separatist chants was bad.
What was the message the racist alt-right took away from Trump’s presser Tuesday? “Progress!” said one. “Thank you President Trump for condemning the alt-left antifa thugs” said another. Richard Spencer said he was “really proud” of Trump for “speaking the truth.”
And what was the message for the rest of the country, the vast, vast majority of Americans who are not on board with the white nationalism on display in Charlottesville? That the president didn’t really believe it was important to call out the neo-Nazis and racists explicitly, as he did Monday? That the president views those marching in his name in Charlottesville as an important part of his political coalition? That perhaps Trump’s purpose really is aligned with the alt-right’s worldview?
That’s up to Americans to decide for themselves.
