Charlottesville mayor: Trump ‘had his opportunity and he whiffed’

Charlottesville Mayor Michael Signer on Monday criticized President Trump after his response to the violent clashes Saturday in Charlottesville, Va.

“I think it speaks for itself. He had his moment,” Signer said on CNN’s “New Day.”

“These are times for leadership. He already seems, thinking about working families and solutions, which I have to do all the time as the mayor of a city like this, is just kind of put action on the table, get things done,” he continued.

{mosads}”He kind of had his opportunity and he whiffed, and I think that speaks for itself.”

Trump faced backlash for his comments on the violent clashes in Charlottesville, where white supremacists rallied to protest the removal of a Confederate statue. The white supremacists clashed with counterprotesters throughout the day, and one died and at least 19 others were injured when a car was driven into counterprotesters. 

The alleged driver of the vehicle, James Alex Fields Jr., who had come from Ohio to participate in the white supremacist rally, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, among other charges.

The president on Saturday denounced the violence but declined to specifically name white supremacists, instead blaming “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides.”

On Sunday, the White House clarified that Trump condemns “all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred.”

“The president said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry, and hatred,” the White House said Sunday. 

“He called for national unity and bringing all Americans together.”