Trump Condemns White Supremacy and Addresses Nation on Dayton, El Paso Shootings
"Hate has no place in America."
“In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy. These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America. Hatred warps the mind, ravages the heart and devours the soul.”
So said President Donald Trump in a national address Monday morning discussing this weekend’s mass shootings. “These barbaric slaughters are an assault on our communities, an attack on our nation and a crime against all humanity.”
Trump Urges Bipartisan Action
The president called for bipartisan cooperation to stem the tide of violence. “Open wounds cannot heal if we are divided,” he said. “We must seek real bipartisan solutions. We have to do that in a bipartisan manner that will truly make America safer and better for all.”
“We vow to act with urgent resolve,” Trump said, laying out several preliminary actions and recommendations.
He called on the FBI “to identify all further resources they need to investigate and disrupt hate crimes and domestic terrorism.”
He urged a partnership with social media companies to assist in flagging would-be mass shooters.
He asked the Justice Department to propose legislation so that those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty.
Trump called for increased policing of the internet. The internet, he said “provided a dangerous avenue to radicalize disturbed minds and perform demented acts.” He also called out “gruesome and grisly video games.” It’s too easy for troubled youth “to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence.”
The President did touch on gun control. He said we “must make sure those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms.” Earlier Monday Trump tweeted the possibility of wider background checks, but gave no details in his speech.
However, he made clear weapons aren’t the real issue. Trump also called for mental health reform to better identify “mentally disturbed individuals.” “Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger. Not the gun.”
“Now is the time set destructive partisanship aside … and find the courage to answer hatred with unity, devotion, and love. It is not up to mentally ill monsters. It is up to us.”
Watch:
