The Associated Press reports:
Attorney General Jeff Sessions says “too much has been read into” President Donald Trump’s statement Saturday amid violence at a protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, related to the removal of a Confederate monument.
Sessions told NBC’s “Today” that Trump had “explicitly condemned” violence and that “he totally opposes” the values espoused by white supremacy organizations. Trump referenced violence “on many sides.” An excerpt of the interview was aired Monday.
Sessions said he expects Trump to say more, saying “I think you’ll hear that again today.” He noted the White House had expressly condemned white supremacy-driven violence in a statement Sunday.
WATCH: “They are simply attempting to legitimate themselves in any way possible.” AG Sessions on Daily Stormer’s response to Trump comments pic.twitter.com/XXtr2qAnM0
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 14, 2017
Trump was given an opportunity to condemn white supremacists. Why didn’t he call them out? @savannahguthrie & @craigmelvin ask AG Sessions pic.twitter.com/uybkjR5mdM
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 14, 2017
.@NorahODonnell: “Does [POTUS] today specifically condemn neo-Nazis & white supremacists? Will he do that?”
AG Sessions: “Absolutely.” pic.twitter.com/JVMkn9uDTu— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 14, 2017