Schatz Tweets “This is Not My President” After Trump’s Remarks on Charlottesville Violence

PC: Sen. Schatz via Twitter. Click image to view in greater detail.

US Senator Brian Schatz today Tweeted the message “This is not my President” following remarks made by President Donald Trump at a news conference in which the president said both groups involved in the recent Charlottesville, VA demonstrations were violent.

The comments came a day after the president issued a statement on the recent events, calling racism evil and speaking about his belief in equality.

In his address today in New York at Trump Tower, the President went further to say, “There are two sides to a story. I thought what took place was a horrible moment for our country, a horrible moment. But there are two sides to the country.”

He further explained saying, “…you had a group on one side that was bad and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. And nobody wants to say that. But I’ll say it right now.”

President Trump did reiterate his stance from Saturday saying, “we condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence. It has no place in America.”  But he went on to criticize the media during the contentious conference saying, “unlike the media, before I make a statement, I like to know the facts.”

In a series of three Tweets this morning, Sen. Schatz of Hawaiʻi said the following:

“It’s almost as though he’s making it up as he goes along.” 10:12 a.m. 8.15.17

“As a Jew, as an American, as a human, words cannot express my disgust and disappointment. This is not my President.” 10:42 a.m. 8.15.17

“There has to be room for people of all political stripes among the coalition of the sane. We all need to take our country back together.” 11:11 a.m. 8.15.17

Fellow US Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaiʻi also weighed in via her Twitter account saying:

“It’s clear that this President does not serve all Americans. Bringing our country together will be up to each of us; he will be no help.” 3:26 p.m. 8.15.17

US Representative Colleen Hanabusa Tweeted:

“@realDonaldTrump . . . defiant, indignant and disgraceful. #Charlottesville”

The clash between white nationalists and counter protesters began with a demonstration over the removal of a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E Lee from an area park.

Tensions escalated with a torch led march through the University of Virginia campus and a deadly incident on Saturday, in which a vehicle plowed through a crowd during a demonstration held by counter protesters.

One of the counter protesters, 32-year-old Heather Heyer was killed in the incident, and more than a dozen others were injured.  The driver was described in various media reports as a Nazi sympathizer.