https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8edi9VOc7kA
Seven minutes into what was supposed to be a brief statement in New York on his new infrastructure plan, Donald Trump reportedly “went rogue” and began answering questions from the press on his initial non-statements about the violence in Charlottesville, as well as his declaration that “many sides” were to blame for what happened over the weekend. Even after taking two days to denounce the KKK and white supremacists, his most incendiary remark over the last few days came from today’s Q and A when he stated that there were “very fine people” on both sides of the protests.
This led to Holocaust denier, convicted felon, former Imperial Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, and failed politician David Duke to thank Donald Trump on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/DrDavidDuke/status/897559892164304896
Additionally, white nationalist/white supremacist/neo-Nazi and coiner of the term “alt-right,”Richard Spencer, appreciated Trump’s off-the-rails, impromptu press conference, while White House staffers were “stunned” by what was taking place.
Trump's statement was fair and down to earth. #Charlottesville could have been peaceful, if police did its job. https://t.co/3FUgmWoiWi
— Richard Spencer (@RichardBSpencer) August 15, 2017
Trump’s new Chief of Staff, John Kelly, was visibly uncomfortable:
John Kelly during the President's Q and A at Trump Tower pic.twitter.com/vxR3hTUqe3
— Kristin Donnelly (@kristindonnelly) August 15, 2017
John Kelly, WH chief of staff, listen as President Donald Trump speaks at Trump Tower lobby this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/EBNPx1UJbv
— Al Drago (@Al_Drago) August 15, 2017
This has led to pundits from both sides taking Trump to task for his remarks, including how jobs will solve the tense race relations of today. That said, in 1952 the unemployment rate was 3.0 and race relations weren’t great then.
https://twitter.com/stephenfhayes/status/897596165344161796
"This was never supposed to happen … One senior White House official tells us he went rogue." @HallieJackson on Trump. #Hardball
— The ReidOut (@thereidout) August 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/molly_knight/status/897597145573990401
White House staff now anonymously leaking that Trump "went rogue."
The real question is whether Trump went Trump.
— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) August 16, 2017
Trump says he's going to fix race relations by providing jobs from which "people will be making a lot more money."
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) August 15, 2017
These statements come on the heels of Trump’s lowest approval rating of his administration, which currently sits at 34 percent.
(Via CNBC)