The president addressed escalating protests in Charlottesville, Virginia in a statement from Bedminster, New Jersey.
President Trump denounced the protests in Charlottesville, Virginia during a brief press appearance from Bedminster, New Jersey, on Saturday, but spent most of his remarks focused on veterans affairs.
“We have to heal the wounds of our country, ” he said. “These are wounds that have been going on for, really, a long time… Everybody wants it to heal and it will heal and we’ re going to make every effort possible to make sure that healing procedure goes as quickly as possible.”
Trump’s comments came after a day of escalating protests and counter-protests in Charlottesville, where white nationalists gathered for a “Unite the Right” rally to protest a decision to remove Confederate statues. The president ignored several questions, shouted by reporters after his remarks, about white nationalists who support his presidency and whether he has denounced them in strong enough terms.
Shortly before Trump’s announcement, state police reported that there were multiple injuries after a vehicle plowed through a crowd of protestors. Charlottesville Mayor Mike Signer announced on Twitter that a person died amid the unrest.
I am heartbroken that a life has been lost here. I urge all people of good will—go home.
Trump said he spoke with Virginia State Governor Terry McAuliffe, who earlier had declared a state of emergency.
“I love the people of our country, ” Trump said. “I love all of the people of our country. We’ re going to make American great again, but we’ re going to make it for all of the people of the United States of America, ” he concluded.
