But the signing came just hours after he once again compared white supremacists, neo-Nazis and the KKK to the anti-fascist "antifa" movement, repeating some of the very remarks that led Congress to pass the resolution in the first place.
"I think especially in light of the advent of antifa, if you look at what's going on there, you know, you have some pretty bad dudes on the other side also," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One Thursday. "A lot of people are saying — in fact a lot of people have actually written — 'Gee, Trump might have a point.' I said, you got some very bad people on the other side also, which is true."
Both the House and Senate passed the resolution earlier this week by voice vote, suggesting near unanimous support.The joint resolution, sponsored by Democratic Virginia senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, was largely ceremonial. It condemned the events of Charlottesville as a "domestic terror attack," and urged Trump to "speak out against hate groups that espouse racism, extremism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and White supremacy."
The resolution also honored Heather Heyer, who was killed when a car driven by right-wing demonstrator drove into a crowd of protesters, and two Virginia troopers, Lt. H. Jay Cullen and Pilot Berke M.M. Bates, who were killed in a helicopter crash while policing the August 12 clashes.
After signing the resolution, Trump also explained his support with a signing statement — a presidential pronouncement usually used to express constitutional concerns or reservations about legislation. But Trump said he was "pleased" to sign the resolution.
"No matter the color of our skin or our ethnic heritage, we all live under the same laws, we all salute the same great flag, and we are all made by the same almighty God," Trump said. "We are a nation founded on the truth that all of us are created equal. As one people, let us move forward to rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans."
Trump met Wednesday with Sen. Tim Scott, an African-American Republican from South Carolina who's been critical of Trump's handling of Charlottlesville. Trump said Thursday that the two had "a great talk" and that he agreed to support some of Scott's proposals to create more job opportunities for young minorities struggling to find work.
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