Donald Trump’s off script remarks during his press conference this afternoon has left many high profile voices in America and abroad saying “What just happened?”
What was supposed to be a press conference highlighting an executive order on his infrastructure plan on Tuesday, was quickly overshadowed by the violence that erupted between racist protesters and counter-protestors in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend.
When the press started asking questions, Trump seemed to be caught in the heat of the moment and some of his responses were likely not what was written by his press secretary:
Trump: "What about the alt-left that came charging at the, as you say, alt-right? Do they have any semblance of guilt?" (via ABC) pic.twitter.com/T4AcDXBE8T
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 15, 2017
President Trump: "George Washington was a slave owner... Are we gonna take down statues to George Washington? How about Thomas Jefferson?" pic.twitter.com/bUJnbaniwL
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 15, 2017
The exchange has left many people questioning the responses:
I haven't seen anything that crazy since Tyson bit Holyfield @realDonaldTrump
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) August 15, 2017
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
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
Reporter just now to Trump: "Are you against the Confederacy."
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) August 15, 2017
I'm sorry, I will never not be surprised that this question is being asked
To defend white supremacists and then slang his shitty ass grape juice pretty much sums the man up
— Steve Nash (@SteveNash) August 15, 2017
The press conference followed an equally bizarre morning for Trump on Twitter that saw him accidentally retweet an accusation towards him of Fascism and then tweet a cartoon of a CNN reporter being run over by a train days after the horrific car accident that left one person dead in Charlottesville. Both tweets were deleted by lunch.
Big day in US. Trump admits he's a Fascist. pic.twitter.com/Uxi9iigICS
— Paula M (@paulam3139) August 15, 2017
Trump RT'd this pic showing a CNN journalist hit by a train days after a white nationalist ran his car into activists, killed Heather Heyer. pic.twitter.com/tWjdoE70AS
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 15, 2017
Tuesday also happened to be Trump's second day back in office after his summer vacation.
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