Trump preaches "unity" after divisive rally in Phoenix
US president Donald Trump has called for a "new unity" in America, saying "we are one people with one home and one great flag." His speech in Reno, Nevada, is in sharp contrast to a campaign-style rally he held a day earlier in Phoenix, Arizona, where he attacked his opponents. Trump's reluctance to condemn a violent white supremacists rally at Charlottesville has attracted outrage.
1 killed after car plows through counter-protesters in Charlottesville
On August 12, white nationalists held a "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville in protest against plans to remove a statue of US Civil War-era pro-slavery Confederate army commander Robert E. Lee. They were met by counter-protesters. Both sides carried sticks, shields and wore helmets while some white supremacists possessed firearms. Both sides clashed before a car plowed through the counter-protesters, killing one.
Trump backtracks, blames "both sides" over Charlottesville violence
On August 16, Trump said both left- and right-wing extremists are to be blamed for the violence in Charlottesville that left one person dead and others injured. Trump's statement has reignited a political firestorm, raising questions over leadership in the face of a national crisis. Earlier, Trump was criticized for not specifically condemning violence by the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups.
Trump: 'It's time to heal the wounds dividing us'
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the convention centre while Trump was speaking. In a 22-minute speech to veterans' group American Legion, Trump said, "It is time to heal the wounds that have divided us." He said "we are not defined by the colour of our skin, the figure on our pay cheque, or the party of our politics."
Trump accuses "dishonest media" of dividing the country
In an 80-minute speech at Phoenix on August 22, Trump criticized the media over its coverage of his statements on the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville. He accused the "damn dishonest media" of "trying to take away our culture" and "history." "The only people giving a platform to these hate groups is the media itself," he said, adding that it's dividing the country.
Trump conveniently omits controversial bits of previous Charlottesville comments
In his speech in Phoenix, Trump selectively quoted his initial response to the violent Charlottesville rally. He omitted his controversial statement that "many sides" were to blame for the clashes, including the so-called "alt-left," which was seen by many as an attempt to appease the white supremacists, who are known to support him. He also called for unity among Americans.
Trump threatened to shut down government unless border wall approved
Trump threatened to shut down the US government unless lawmakers approved funding for his proposed US-Mexico border wall. He once again linked illegal immigration to crime and drugs. "This is like from a different age... These are animals. We are getting them out of here. We're throwing them in jails, and we're throwing them out of the country. We're liberating our towns," he said.
