Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) on Sunday tied President Trump to the “side” that prompted violence at a white nationalist rally in Virginia this weekend.
Following remarks in which Trump blamed violence “on many sides” for the deadly event, Waters said: “No, Trump. Not on many sides, your side.”
She went on to name several White House aides as white supremacists, including Stephen Bannon and Sebastian Gorka.
“It is now the White Supremacists’ House,” she charged.
“Trump defined himself during campaign. He encouraged violence against protesters at rallies. We should not be surprised,” Waters continued. “Don’t forget, Trump offered to pay legal fees for those who attacked protesters at his rallies. Will he be making that same offer now?”
Waters alluded to comments made by the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke, during the “Unite the Right” event, in which he said the event represented fulfilling the promises of Trump’s campaign.
“Trump claimed he didn’t know D. Duke, but Duke said white supremacist rally was done to fulfill Trump’s promises. Do you know him now, Trump?” Waters said.
One person was killed and at least 19 others were injured when a man plowed his car into a group of peaceful protestors at the Charlottesville rally on Saturday. Violent clashes between white nationalists and counter-protesters caused a state of emergency to be declared just hours before the fatal car attack.
Trump faced bipartisan criticism for his remarks following the attack, including from many top Republicans, with one urging him to call the attack “a terror attack by white supremacists.”
Maxine Waters @MaxineWaters
Don’t forget, Trump offered to pay legal fees for those who attacked protesters at his rallies. Will he be making that same offer now?
