Almost 15,000 supporters gathered in Arizona on Tuesday as US President Trump addressed them with a defence of his 12 August response to the violence in Charlottesville.
Trump also asserted that he “respects” the fact that North Korea has “started to respect” the US and promised to shut down the government if necessary to build a wall along with the border with Mexico.
Moreover, the large turnout at the rally signified that his popularity doesn’t seem to be waning.
Under fire for saying “both sides” were to blame for the violence between white supremacists and left-wing counter protesters in Virginia on 12 August, Trump accused television networks of ignoring his calls for unity in the aftermath.
I didn’t say I love you because you’re black, or I love you because you’re white. I love all the people of our country.Donald Trump
Police used pepper spray to disperse crowds after protesters threw rocks and bottles outside the convention center where Trump spoke, police said.
Trump Attacks Media on Charlottesville
Trump called a majority of the mainstream American media dishonest, bad and a “lobbying tool” for allegedly giving a platform to hate groups after the violence at a white supremacist rally in Virginia.
Trump said that most of the media was propagating incorrect information about him and fomenting divisions in the United States.
Trump singled out popular media organisations like The New York Times, The Washington Post and CNN for his criticism.
He, however, praised Fox News for its coverage of his presidency.
“For the most part honestly, these are really, really dishonest people, they’re bad people,” Trump said. “I really think they don’t like our country, I really believe that.” He claimed The Times apologised to him after he won the November election and called The Post “a lobbying tool for Amazon”.
Trump Says N Korea Respecting US
Trump expressed cautious optimism on Tuesday about a possible improvement in relations with North Korea after months of mounting tension over its weapons programs.
I respect the fact that he is starting to respect us.Trump on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un
“And maybe – probably not, but maybe – something positive can come about,” he said in Arizona.
Trump covered the gamut of issues, from NAFTA trade talks to the US showdown with North Korea, during a thunderous political speech lasting an hour and 15 minutes.
He said he might terminate the NAFTA treaty with Mexico and Canada to jump start negotiations, and said the standoff with North Korea over its weapons programs might have taken a positive turn.
Trump on Obamacare, Mexico Wall
Trump complained repeatedly about the “one vote” that stopped the Senate from repealing and replacing Obamacare, the signature domestic policy of his predecessor, Barack Obama. One of the votes against the legislation was cast by Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer.
Funding for the border wall has flagged in the US Congress as many lawmakers question whether Trump's main campaign promise is really necessary.
But with a budget battle looming, Trump said he would be willing to risk a politically damaging government shutdown in order to secure funding for the wall.
He visited the border region in Yuma, Arizona, earlier on Tuesday.
“If we have to close down our government, we're building that wall," Trump said. "We're going to have our wall. The American people voted for immigration control. We're going to get that wall.”
(With inputs from PTI and Reuters.)
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