A Democratic group is hitting President Trump over his claim that “both sides” were responsible for the violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend.
A new video from Bridge Project, an arm of the liberal super PAC American Bridge, plays Trump’s recent remarks over footage from the rally.
Trump can be heard saying “I think there’s blame on both sides,” as images of torch-bearing white nationalists and neo-Nazi groups flash across the screen.
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The 30-second video also shows scenes of a vehicle driving through a crowd of counterdemonstrators. Police have arrested a man with reported ties to racist groups, who they allege drove into the demonstrators. The attack left one woman dead and 19 others injured.
“Excuse me. They didn’t put themselves down as neo-Nazis,” Trump is heard saying. “And you had some very bad people in that group. But you also had people that were very fine people on both sides.”
Trump reignited the controversy over Charlotttesville, where white supremacists protesting the city’s decision to take down a Confederate statute clashed with counterprotesters, by blaming them equally.
Trump on Tuesday said there were “fine people” on “both sides.” He also criticized “alt-left” protesters for violently confronting white nationalists.
Both Democrats and Republicans have criticized the president’s remarks and urged him to take a tougher tone against hate groups.