Former President Donald J. Trump downplayed the violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., in 2017, while referring to recent pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses as “riots.”
During the Charlottesville rally, one woman was killed and nearly 40 people were injured when an avowed neo-Nazi drove his car through a crowd of counterprotesters. Prior to this tragic event, hundreds of white supremacists had marched through the city, carrying torches and chanting anti-Semitic slogans.
The current campus protests, although resulting in numerous arrests, have not reported any significant violence.
In a social media post, Mr. Trump criticized President Biden for his handling of the Charlottesville incident, comparing it to the recent protests, which he described as riots and anti-Israel demonstrations occurring across the country.
Mr. Trump also accused President Biden of favoring Palestinians over Israel, claiming that he “HATES Israel and Hates the Jewish people,” but struggles with his stance on Palestinians.
Representatives for the Trump campaign declined to comment on the matter.
Following the Charlottesville events, Mr. Trump faced criticism for equating the white supremacists with peaceful counterprotesters, stating that there were “very fine people on both sides.”
In response to Mr. Trump’s remarks, a spokesman for the Biden campaign emphasized that the American people reject being lectured by Mr. Trump, highlighting his divisive statements following the Charlottesville rally.
The Charlottesville rally was fueled by the racist conspiracy theory known as the great replacement theory, which has incited racist attacks worldwide, including in the United States.
Mr. Biden has faced opposition from protesters sympathetic to Palestinians and critical of the U.S.’s support for Israel. Mr. Trump’s social media post aimed to portray these protesters as a violent mob while intensifying their anger towards President Biden.
Additionally, Mr. Trump has made derogatory remarks towards Jewish voters who support Democrats, accusing them of betraying their religion and Israel.
Some campus protests have included hate speech and support for Hamas, the militant group responsible for attacks on Israel. In response, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza, resulting in casualties, mostly among women and children.
This week, Mr. Biden condemned antisemitic protests while expressing sympathy for the Palestinians and urging a better understanding of the situation.
