US President Donald Trump has named and condemned “repugnant” hate groups and declared that “racism is evil”.
The remarks came as part of a far more forceful statement than he had made earlier after deadly, race-fuelled weekend clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Trump’s initial failure on Saturday to denounce the groups by name – instead he bemoaned violence on “many sides” – prompted criticism from fellow Republicans as well as Democrats.
This time, the president described members of the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists who take part in violence as “criminals and thugs” in a prepared statement he read during an unscheduled address from the White House.
“Racism is evil,” he said, singling out the hate groups as “repugnant to everything that we hold dear as Americans”.
“Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America,” he said.
In his remarks he also called for unity.
“We must love each other, show affection for each other and unite together in condemnation of hatred, bigotry and violence,” he said. “We must rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans.”
Meanwhile, some have joined in to support Trump.
President Trump denounces racism after Charlottesville violence FINALLY? FORCEFULLY, BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.
— josephine huyghe (@ggmajo) August 14, 2017
President Trump’s condemnation today of racism, bigotry and hatred should satisfy even his harshest critics.
— Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) August 14, 2017
While the others believe his statement comes a little too late.
Trump finally mentions the hate groups in a prepared speech. Too little, too late for me.
— Leslie K2 (@lesherb) August 14, 2017
How hard would it have been to issue this statement days ago?
A: Not hard at all.
— Jim Swift (@JSwiftTWS) August 14, 2017
Was Trump’s statement too little, too late? He began by bragging about accomplishments, then briefly dealt w/talk about racism.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) August 14, 2017
Earlier, the CEO of pharmaceutical company Merck said he was resigning from the president’s American Manufacturing Council, citing “a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism”.
Trump lashed back almost immediately at Kenneth Frazier on Twitter, saying Frazier “will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!”
Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President’s Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2017