Justen Charters Screenshot/Twitter
President Donald Trump held an explosive news conference on Tuesday about his reaction to Charlottesville.
Trump, who had been criticized for not speaking about white supremacy earlier than he did, had some choice words for the media.
After calling out reporters for being upset about how long it took him to call racists “repugnant,” Trump brought up the alt-left.
The president said:
“What about the alt-left that came charging at, as you say, at the alt-right? Do they have any assemblage of guilt? What about the fact that they came charging with clubs in their hands swinging clubs? Do they have any problem? I think they do. That was a horrible, horrible day.”
Trump was mocked repeatedly on Twitter for his comments:
Alt-left, violently coming at the alt-right, circa 1944. pic.twitter.com/K9J9MoXvX0
— Scott Gilmore (@Scott_Gilmore) August 15, 2017
Liberal arts college professor brutalizes Nazi, who has a permit. More alt-left indoctrination. pic.twitter.com/knrhHuPNDl
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) August 15, 2017
Repeat after me: there is no such thing as the alt-left. There's no real left-wing counterpart to this new Nazi movement.
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) August 15, 2017
But Trump’s assessment about the alt-left isn’t a laughing matter at all.
In fact, on Tuesday a clash broke out between police and members of Antifa in Illinois, who reportedly wouldn’t get out of an intersection.
Breaking: Scuffle ensues between antifa and police outside North Center courthouse pic.twitter.com/puGTNG91Cm
— Tony Briscoe (@_TonyBriscoe) August 15, 2017
Tensions rising but protesters pushed back onto the sidewalk near Clybourn and Westerm pic.twitter.com/xtwOpMGb8o
— Tony Briscoe (@_TonyBriscoe) August 15, 2017
Based on the footage taken, it appears that there is an alt left — and they are violent.