PHOENIX: US President Donald Trump revved up supporters on Tuesday with a defence of his response to a white supremacist-organised rally in Virginia, and a promise to shut down the government if necessary to build a wall along with the border with Mexico.
Under fire for saying “both sides” were to blame for the violence between white supremacists and left-wing counter protesters in Virginia on August 12, Trump accused television networks of ignoring his calls for unity in the aftermath.
“I didn’t say I love you because you’re black, or I love you because you’re white,” Trump said. “I love all the people of our country.”
Police used pepper spray to disperse crowds after protesters threw rocks and bottles outside the convention centre where Trump spoke, police said.
Trump repeatedly singled out the US news media for criticism of how they covered the violence in the Virginia college town of Charlottesville and the political fallout.
“These are truly dishonest people. They’re bad people. I really think they don’t like our country,” Trump said. “The only people giving a platform to these hate groups is the media.”
With thousands of supporters cheering him on, Trump also weighed in on another racially charged issue, hinting he would soon pardon former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Arpaio, 85, who battled illegal immigration in the Phoenix area, was found guilty last month of criminal contempt for violating the terms of a 2011 court order in a racial profiling case.
Trump covered the gamut of issues, from NAFTA trade talks to the US showdown with North Korea, during a thunderous political speech lasting an hour and 15 minutes.
He said he might terminate the NAFTA treaty with Mexico and Canada to jumpstart negotiations, and said the standoff with North Korea over its weapons programmes might have taken a positive turn.
However, it was unclear whether the speech will help lay the foundation for a comeback from the deep political crisis Trump finds himself in after only seven months in office.
He expressed frustration that the Republican-controlled Congress was unable to approve healthcare legislation that failed to pass the Senate by one vote last month.
One of the votes against the legislation was cast by Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.
Without mentioning their names, Trump criticised both McCain and his fellow Arizona Republican, Senator Jeff Flake. Neither McCain nor Flake attended the event.
Trump complained repeatedly about the “one vote” that stopped the Senate from repealing and replacing Obamacare, the signature domestic policy of his predecessor, Barack Obama. — Reuters
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