Former United States presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush on Wednesday condemned the violent clashes in Charlottesville over the weekend saying that 'hatred in all forms' must be rejected.
"America must always reject racial bigotry, Anti-Semitism and hatred in all forms," the two said in a joint statement.
"As we pray for Charlottesville, we are reminded of the fundamental truths recorded by that city's most prominent citizen in the Declaration of Independence: We are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights. We know these truths to be everlasting because we have seen the decency and greatness of our country," they added.
President Trump in a press conference, defended some of the white supremacy rally's participants, made the case for Confederate statues and equated neo-Nazis to leftist activist groups.
"This week, it is Robert E. Lee and this week, Stonewall Jackson. Is it George Washington next? You have to ask yourself, where does it stop?" Trump said.
The US President emphasised that both sides of the clashes contributed to the violence which happened in a white supremacists rally in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend.
Earlier, Trump had condemned the violence in Charlottesville, saying that "the hatred and division in the America must stop as we are all Americans first."
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides," he had said during a short statement, adding that he had been closely following terrible events unfolding in Virginia.
"Hate and division in the country must stop. No matter our colour, creed, religion, our political party, we are all Americans first," he said, adding that he'd like for his administration to "study" why such violence is occurring.
Trump said that he spoke to Governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe and they agreed that the hate and the division in the America must stop and must stop right now.
However, Trump received widespread criticism for failing to specifically rebuke white nationalists for violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Demonstrators clashed on the streets of Charlottesville ahead of a white nationalist rally, with counter-protesters and right-wing nationalist groups converging on the college town in the latest chapter in the United States' debate over race and identity.
The protests were initiated by the city's government decision of removing the confederate past, including a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
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