Scalise after Trump presser: ‘I was clear … we must defeat white supremacy’

House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) on Tuesday reasserted his condemnation of “bigotry and violence” after President Trump doubled down on his claims that “both sides” are responsible for violence in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend.

“I was clear about this bigotry and violence over the weekend and I’ll repeat it today: We must defeat white supremacy and all forms of hatred,” Scalise tweeted.

The tweet included his past statement on the violence Saturday at a white supremacist rally that left one counterprotester and at least 19 injured.

{mosads}”I’m disgusted by the violence and killing that took place in Charlottesville and by the vile white supremacist bigotry that inspired it,” Scalise said in the statement. “There must be no tolerance for racism in our nation and we must work together as Americans and human beings to defeat white supremacy and all forms of hatred.”

I was clear about this bigotry & violence over the weekend and I’ll repeat it today: We must defeat white supremacy and all forms of hatred. https://t.co/iOaVvE8txs

— Rep. Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) August 15, 2017

Scalise was the subject of scandal in 2014 after it was reported that he gave a speech to a white supremacist group in 2002. The Louisiana lawmaker has since apologized for the speech and condemned white supremacists.

Scalise nearly died on June 14 when a gunman opened fire on GOP lawmakers and staffers practicing in a Washington, D.C., suburb for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. Four other people were also shot.

The No. 2 House Republican has been recovering from broken bones, internal organ damage, major blood loss and infection amid multiple surgeries. It is unknown when he will return to Congress.