In this fact-checking video, CNN’s Jake Tapper and FactCheck.org examine the comments that President Donald Trump made to supporters in Arizona about the violent rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
At an event in Phoenix on Aug. 22, Trump blamed the “dishonest” news media for cherry-picking his words to distort his statements on Charlottesville. The president said that in his original remarks on Aug. 12, he said, “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence.”
Actually, Trump failed to tell his audience in Arizona that he blamed “many sides” for bigotry and violence. His full quote was: “We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence, on many sides. On many sides.” His remarks drew criticism from politicians from both parties, who faulted Trump for not singling out the hate groups that organized the rally.
Trump went on to highlight selected excerpts of his remarks on Charlottesville, cherry-picking his own words.
Read what Trump said about this and other topics in our article “Trump’s Phoenix Fiction.” All of our fact-checking videos with CNN’s “State of the Union” can also be found on our website.