McCain: Trump Needs to State Difference Between Racists and Those Fighting Hate

President Donald Trump needs to state that there is "no moral equivalency between racists and Americans standing up to defy hate and bigotry," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., tweeted Tuesday.

There's no moral equivalency between racists & Americans standing up to defy hate& bigotry. The President of the United States should say so

— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) August 16, 2017

Trump held an impromptu press conference at Trump Tower where he doubled down on his initial statement regarding the violence in Charlottesville, Va., and blamed "many sides" for it, which started when white nationalists clashed with counter protestors.

The president also slammed the "alt-left" for violently confronting the white nationalist groups.

"What about the fact they came charging — that they came charging, with clubs in their hands, swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do," said Trump when a reporter said McCain stated that the alt-right was behind the attacks. "So, you know, as far as I'm concerned, that was a horrible, horrible day."

McCain on Saturday said white supremacists "aren’t patriots, they’re traitors," and later called on Trump to denounce the "repugnant attacks" on Gen. H.R. McMaster by "alt-right" groups."

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