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Reuters

Business

Amanda Becker and Jeff Mason

Trump blames 'both sides' for Virginia violence as many Republicans balk

President Donald Trump answers questions about his response to the violence, injuries and deaths at the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville as he talks to the media in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WASHINGTON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump inflamed tension after a deadly rally by white nationalists in Virginia by insisting that counter protesters were also to blame, drawing condemnation from some Republican leaders and praise from white supremacists.

In a combative news conference, Trump backed off from his Monday statements explicitly denouncing the Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis and white supremacists for the violence that erupted at a "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, and reverted to his weekend contention that "many sides" were to blame.

An artist works on a mural of car attack victim Heather Heyer prior to a memorial service for Heyer in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 16. 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

"You had a group on one side that was bad," Trump said on Tuesday. "And you had a group on the other side that was also very violent. And nobody wants to say that. But I'll say it right now."

Trump later said, "I think there is blame on both sides and I have no doubt about it," adding that there were "very fine people" on both sides.

At the weekend rally against the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee, commander of the pro-slavery Confederate army during the U.S. Civil War, many participants were seen carrying firearms, sticks, shields, and lit torches. Some wore helmets.

The Paramount Theater is seen prior to a memorial service for car attack victim Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 16. 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Counter-protesters came equipped with sticks, helmets and shields.

James Fields, a 20-year-old Ohio man who is said to have harboured Nazi sympathies, was charged with murder after the car he was driving ploughed into a crowd of counter protesters, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer on Saturday and injuring 19.

A memorial service for Heyer is planned in Charlottesville on Wednesday.

Car attack victim Heather Heyer's father Mark Heyer speaks at her memorial service inside the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 16. 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Trump's remarks drew swift criticism from many Republican leaders.

"No, not the same," former Massachusetts governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney wrote on Twitter. "One side is racist, bigoted, Nazi. The other opposes racism and bigotry. Morally different universes."

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, who vied with Trump for the Republican presidential nomination, also responded in a series of Twitter posts.

Flowers are pictured on the street where Heather Heyer was killed when a suspected white nationalist crashed his car into anti-racist demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 16, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

"The organizers of events which inspired and led to #charlottesvilleterroristattack are 100 percent to blame for a number of reasons," Rubio began.

"Mr. President, you can't allow #WhiteSupremacists to share only part of the blame. They support idea which cost nation and world so much pain … the #WhiteSupremacy groups will see being assigned only 50 percent of the blame as a win," Rubio added.

Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke applauded Trump for his "honesty & courage" on Twitter. Richard Spencer, the head of a white nationalist group, wrote on Twitter that he was "proud of him for speaking the truth."

People in an over flow area watch the memorial service for Heather Heyer, who was killed when a suspected white nationalist crashed his car into anti-racist demonstrators, in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 16, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Richard Trumka, the president of the AFL-CIO labour federation representing 12.5 million workers, resigned from Trump's American Manufacturing Council, joining a series of chief executives in doing so.

White House officials hoping to put the controversy behind them, worried the conference would revive and intensify the controversy. Asked about next steps, one official said: "I think next steps are just to stop talking."

Hours later, the White House sent its regular "evening communications briefing" of talking points on the "news of the day" to Republican lawmakers, copies obtained by multiple news organizations, including CNN and the Atlantic, showed.

Police keep watch inside the Paramount Theater during a memorial service for car attack victim Heather Heyer in Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., August 16. 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

The first summary point read: "The President was entirely correct – both sides of the violence in Charlottesville acted inappropriately, and bear some responsibility."

(Additional reporting by Scott Malone in Charlottesville; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)