Lindsey Graham Calls Out Trump By Name In New Charlottesville Statement

Lindsey Graham continues to be one of the strongest critics of Donald Trump in the Republican party.

Senator Lindsey Graham issued a statement Wednesday warning Donald Trump that his rhetoric about the violence in Charlottesville is dividing the country.

“Mr. President, I encourage you to try to bring us together as a nation after this horrific event in Charlottesville. Your words are dividing Americans, not healing them,” Graham said in a statement.

Graham is hardly the first Republican to issue a strong statement after Trump’s insane press conference Tuesday, however, his statement is the by far the most directed at Trump himself.

Republicans have rebuked Trump after he said during a press conference on Tuesday that both the “alt-left” and white nationalist groups were to blame for violence in Charlottesville, but there were “very fine people” on both sides.

Graham said Trump’s remarks were a “step backward” and that the president made a “moral equivalency” between white supremacists who attended the weekend rally and Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old woman killed after being hit by a car driven by a white supremacist.

“I, along with many others, do not endorse this moral equivalency,” Graham said.

“Many Republicans do not agree with and will fight back against the idea that the Party of Lincoln has a welcome mat out for the David Dukes of the world.”

“My thoughts and prayers will be the family and friends of Ms. Heyer as they remember and honor her today,” Graham added.

Here is Lindsey Graham’s full statement:

[image via NBC screenshot]