LEXINGTON, Ky. _ The Kentucky high school student at the center of a national uproar over his interaction with a Native American in Washington, D.C., said in an interview that "in hindsight, I wish we could've walked away and avoided the whole thing."
Nick Sandmann of Covington Catholic was interviewed by NBC News' Savannah Guthrie, who asked him whether he felt that he owed anyone an apology or felt that he was at fault "in any way" after he stood very close to and looked at Native American elder Nathan Phillips for an extended time.
Sandmann responded: "As far as standing there, I had every right to do so. ... My position is that I was not disrespectful to Mr. Phillips. I respect him. I'd like to talk to him. I mean, in hindsight I wish we could've walked away and avoided the whole thing."
The clip aired on "NBC Nightly News" Tuesday night. NBC said the full interview will be broadcast on the "Today Show" on Wednesday.
President Donald Trump tweeted in support of the much criticized Covington Catholic students shown in viral videos facing off with or laughing while Phillips sang and played a small drum at the Lincoln Memorial on Friday.
The Catholic high school and Covington Diocese apologized for the students' behavior toward Native Americans and said Saturday: "The behavior is opposed to the church's teachings on the dignity and respect of the human person."
The diocese issued another statement Tuesday, saying a third-party investigation would get underway this week, The Associated Press reported. It did not say who would conduct the investigation.
The diocese called the incident "a very serious matter that has already permanently altered the lives of many people" and said the facts gathered would help determine what "corrective actions, if any, are appropriate," according to the AP.
The students, many of whom wore Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again" on hats, got Trump's support Monday night and Tuesday. "Looking like Nick Sandmann & Covington Catholic students were treated unfairly with early judgments proving out to be false _ smeared by media," Trump stated.
In a second tweet Tuesday, Trump said the students "captivated the attention of the world, and I know they will use it for the good _ maybe even to bring people together. It started off unpleasant, but can end in a dream!"
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin tweeted similar remarks Tuesday, saying he is "saddened by the whole thing."
Covington Catholic was closed Tuesday, according to multiple media reports. School principal Robert Rowe stated in a letter sent to parents that school was canceled "in order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff," according to FOX 19.
Following threats, extra security also was in place Tuesday at the school, according to FOX 19. The threats were being investigated, Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney Rob Sanders told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Initial shorter and longer videos of the incident Friday showed a student, later identified as Sandmann, standing in front of Phillips, who also is a Vietnam War veteran. As Phillips played the drum, Sandmann smiled while other students behind him cheered and laughed. Phillips was singing a song about the Native American movement; the song was about strength and courage, he told media.
After additional videos were circulated showing minutes before the encounter, Sandmann issued a statement that said Phillips confronted him and "got in his face." Sandmann said his actions weren't racist. Sandmann's family hired a PR firm to help, the Courier-Journal reported.
"I ... do not have hateful feelings in my heart and did not witness any of my classmates doing that," he said in his written remarks released Sunday.
"I never felt like I was blocking the Native American protester. He did not make any attempt to go around me. It was clear to me that he had singled me out for a confrontation, although I am not sure why," he stated.
Phillips said Sandmann needs to put out a different statement.
"I'm disappointed with his statement. He didn't accept any responsibility. That lack of responsibility, I don't accept it," he said, according to the Enquirer.
Before the separate encounter with Phillips, the boys and the crowd at the memorial were subjected to a small group of street preachers who made a series of inflammatory statements and accusations, according to the videos. The Native American group was not shown making any of those sorts of statements before encountering the Covington Catholic classmates.
One of the chaperones of the Covington Catholic students, Val Andreev, told the USA Today Network there was no confrontation and nothing to control.
"There was nothing the chaperones could have done differently," Andreev said. "I'm very proud the way the boys handled the situation."
Andreev added that the students were set up and the event was staged.
Another chaperone, Jill Hamlin, felt the boys were "targeted for what they stood for, which is Christianity and the right for life," she said on "Fox & Friends" on Tuesday.
Although Phillips turned down an invitation from Cincinnati restaurateur Jeff Ruby to "break bread and make amends" with the students, Phillips offered Tuesday to go to the high school for a "dialogue about cultural appropriation, racism and the importance of listening to and respecting diverse cultures," according to the AP.
U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, who represents the area where Covington Catholic is located, said the students received a "brutal lesson in the unjust court of public opinion and social media mobs."
"I urge everyone to watch the other videos before passing judgment. Would you have remained that composed at that age under those circumstances," Massie said in a series of five tweets sent Sunday.
"In the face of racist and homosexual slurs, the young boys refused to reciprocate or disrespect anyone," Massie added. "Even when taunted by homophobic bigots, which was obviously bewildering to them, they insulted no one."
