This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
During a press conference on Tuesday at Trump Tower in Manhattan, President Donald Trump described the violence and chaos at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, as a “horrible thing to watch.” He then added that counterprotestors and the "alt-left" were equally responsible for the day's events.
"I think there's blame on both sides. And I have no doubt about it," the president said. “You had a group on one side that was bad and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. ...No one wants to say that, but I’ll say it right now: You had a group on the other side that came charging in without a permit and they were very, very violent.”The President continued, “What about the alt-left that came charging at the alt-right — do they have any semblance of guilt? They came charging, clubs in hand, swinging clubs.”
The press conference quickly drew reaction from politicians, journalists, actors, musicians, and others.
Writer/comedian Patton Oswalt's take:
What...the...FUCK is happening in our country? Our president just...sided...with...Nazis and white nationalists. Holy. FUCK https://t.co/YJzAQBUJgp
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 15, 2017
Writer/Director Judd Apatow took a similar stance:
Fuck this guy. He has such passion for all of the evil corrupt people on this planet. Never any rage at the murderers. No compassion. https://t.co/5OCUBFZdQx
— Judd Apatow 🇺🇦 (@JuddApatow) August 15, 2017
LeBron James tweeted that Trump made hate "fashionable again":
Hate has always existed in America. Yes we know that but Donald Trump just made it fashionable again! Statues has nothing to do with us now!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) August 15, 2017
Norman Lear, who created TV series like "All In The Family" and "The Jeffersons", tweeted:
I fought Nazis in World War II. They aren’t “very fine people,” @realDonaldTrump. #Charlottesville https://t.co/IS5J5x0oI9
— Norman Lear (@TheNormanLear) August 15, 2017
Chelsea Handler called on past presidents to step forward:
Every past president that is still alive needs to come forward now and denounce Trump and advocate for him being declared unfit for office.
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) August 15, 2017
Barbra Streisand spelled out her case:
W/o a prepared statement, this Pres says what he really believes: Equating neo-Nazis to those protecting civil rights is disgraceful & crazy
— Barbra Streisand (@BarbraStreisand) August 15, 2017
Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren condemned the President's comments as "sick":
The President of the United States just defended neo-Nazis and blamed those who condemn their racism and hate. This is sick.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) August 15, 2017
Actor George Takei directed his comments to the president directly:
Donald, the only one praising your comments today is David Duke. That's how deeply damaged you are & how deeply you're damaging our country.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) August 15, 2017
Broad City co-star and co-creator Ilana Glazer underscored the connection:
KKK <3 @realDonaldTrump <3 KKK <3 @realDonaldTrump <3 KKK .... https://t.co/21QW9WTC1p
— ilana glazer (@ilazer) August 15, 2017
Documentarian Michael Moore didn't mince words:
OMG. What did we just watch? He blamed the anti-racism protesters. He likened George Washington to Robert E. Lee. Donald. Trump. Fuck. You.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) August 15, 2017
John Legend laughed at the president:
One of the most transparent lies Trump told today is that he likes to wait for the facts before he makes a statement. Hahahahahaahaha
— John Legend (@johnlegend) August 15, 2017
Marco Rubio, the Florida Senator who ran against Donald Trump in the Republican presidential primaries, took to Twitter to state that blame for the violence at Saturday's rally lies squarely on "White Supremacists":
The organizers of events which inspired & led to #charlottesvilleterroristattack are 100% to blame for a number of reasons. 1/6
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 15, 2017
Actor Andrew Rannells kept his comment succinct:
Westworld co-star Evan Rachel Wood highlighted the strength of slain protester Heather Heyer's father:
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders said the President is "embarrassing our country":
.@realDonaldTrump, you are embarrassing our country and the millions of Americans who fought and died to defeat Nazism.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) August 15, 2017
Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel made light of the president's comments:
I haven't seen anything that crazy since Tyson bit Holyfield @realDonaldTrump
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) August 15, 2017
As did actor Will Arnett:
— Will Arnett™ (@arnettwill) August 15, 2017
Here's actress Jamie Chung's response:
@realDonaldTrump is officially a Nazi supporting LUNATIC. @GOP Take a stand. He's taking your party straight to hell
— Jamie Chung (@jamiechung1) August 15, 2017
Gavin Newsom, California's Lieutenant Governor, said that "we cannot forget this moment":
The President of the United States is defending Nazis and white supremacists. On national television. We cannot forget this moment. https://t.co/oZAX0KRqR1
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 15, 2017
Singer Josh Groban mocked the president's words:
"Look there was violence on both sides" - Trump on WW2 probably
— josh groban (@joshgroban) August 15, 2017
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan made his views clear:
We must be clear. White supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for. There can be no moral ambiguity.
— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) August 15, 2017
Author and essayist Roxane Gay was blunt with her response:
Novelist J.K. Rowling made her own point:
One good thing about that abomination of a speech: it's now impossible for any Trump supporter to pretend they don't know what he is.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) August 15, 2017
Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda called for the president's impeachment:
Impeach this bad man. https://t.co/yZiSnY7boD
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) August 15, 2017
Captain America actor Chris Evans seemed to be in shock by the press conference:
Seriously. EVERYONE needs to watch that press conference in its entirety. He does everything flawlessly wrong. It's a stunning disaster.
— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) August 15, 2017
Zoe Kazan, who co-stared in the Big Sick, personalized her message:
And Kumail Nanjiani called out the president's supporters:
Talk show host and comedian Ellen DeGeneres focused on a positive message:
When it comes to love, kindness, acceptance and progress, I believe there is only one side.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 15, 2017
And singer Lady Gaga posed her response as a question:
Do you think @realDonaldTrump @POTUS saying "both sides are to blame" in #Charlottesville makes him a racist supporter? Yes or no?
— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 15, 2017
