President Donald Trump defended his rhetoric Wednesday in the wake of two mass shootings.
Trump said while leaving the White House on Wednesday to visit Ohio and Texas that he doesn't think his statements have contributed to violence, even though some of his words mirror language linked to one of the weekend's shooters.
"No, I don't think my rhetoric has at all," Trump said, adding that it "brings people together."
Democrats vying to challenge Trump in the 2020 election have been nearly unanimous in excoriating Trump for rhetoric they say nurtured the racist attitudes of the El Paso shooter.
Trump also said he is "concerned about the rise of any group of hate," whether it's white supremacy, "any other kind of supremacy" or anti-fascist groups.
Trump said he's going to "do something about it," but he didn't say what.
Trump also dismissed calls for legislation to ban assault rifles as politically unfeasible, saying he wanted to strengthen background checks for gun purchases and make sure mentally ill people did not carry guns.
He predicted congressional support for those two measures but not for banning assault rifles.
"I can tell you that there is no political appetite for that at this moment," Trump told reporters at the White House. "But I will certainly bring that up ... There is a great appetite, and I mean a very strong appetite, for background checks."
Material from Reuters and The Associated Press was used in compiling this report.
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