CNN “New Day” weekend host Victor Blackwell slammed President Trump’s response to the one-year anniversary of the violence at a rally organized by white nationalists in Charlottesville, Va., that resulted in the death of one counter-protester.
Blackwell said Saturday that Trump’s tweet condemning “all types of racism and acts of violence” bore no credibility coming from the president.
{mosads}”We should put this into context as to who is sending this out,” Blackwell said, before referring to several reports of comments Trump has made while president. “This from the president who said that all Haitians have AIDS. This from the president who said that Nigerians will never ‘go back to their huts’ when they come and see America.”
“This from the president who said that African countries are shitholes,” Blackwell added, referring to another reported conversation from January. He then went on to list other controversial statements and policies made by Trump over the course of his presidency and campaign.
“So when you see the president here talking about he ‘condemns all types of racism,’ remember his record.”
Trump tweeted Saturday ahead of a planned anniversary “Unite the Right” march to be held this weekend in Washington, D.C., that he condemned the “senseless death and division” caused by the white nationalist rally last year in Charlottesville, Va.
“We must come together as a nation. I condemn all types of racism and acts of violence. Peace to ALL Americans!” the president added.
The president faced criticism last year for defending “very fine people” on “both sides” of the rally last year, which many saw as equating the white supremacists with the counter-protesters.
Authorities are planning a massive law enforcement presence in Washington, D.C., and Charlottesville, Va., this weekend ahead of expected protests.