Johnson: Can We Move On From Trump Defending White Supremacists Already

Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson of Wis., questions retired Marine Gen. John F. Kelly, during the committee's hearing on Kelly's confirmation to be Secretary of Homeland Security on Capitol Hil... Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Ron Johnson of Wis., questions retired Marine Gen. John F. Kelly, during the committee's hearing on Kelly's confirmation to be Secretary of Homeland Security on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen) MORE LESS
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Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) signaled on Wednesday that he’s tired of questions about President Donald Trump’s controversial comments on the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.

“You tell me what he needs to say so we can move beyond this,” he told reporters, according to the Cap Times. “He said it once. Again, I’m not going to speak for the President, I speak for myself.”

Johnson continued to express frustration over foreign policy and budgetary issues he said were being ignored in the meantime.

“We can continue to harp on President Trump’s reaction to Charlottesville, but from my standpoint, I’m concentrating on finding areas of agreement and doing everything I can under my committee’s jurisdiction and what I can do to improve the situation,” he said.

Johnson also said he doesn’t see any reason for impeachment.

“Is it too early to think about Article 25 and impeachment?” asked one reporter.

“On what grounds?” Johnson responded.

Following a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia featuring Nazi salutes and shouts of “Jews will not replace us,” Trump on Tuesday blamed “both sides” for the violence leading to counter-protester Heather Heyer’s death. He also said “both sides” had “fine people.”

While Johnson admitted he wasn’t “entirely” comfortable with Trump’s comments, he avoided criticizing the President outright and pivoted to healing divides.

“Let’s try to unify this nation. Let’s try and heal it. Let’s try and focus on what is causing the division and reduce it,” said Johnson.

The Wisconsin senator lamented the situation during an appearance on WTMJ’s “Jeff Wagner Show” on the same day.

“I just find this whole thing depressing,” he said.

Watch Johnson addressing questions about Trump below:

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Notable Replies

  1. “I resign.”

  2. Avatar for zsak zsak says:

    NO. It is not appropriate to move on. The situation needs to be properly addressed.

  3. “I just find this whole thing depressing,” he said.

    True that! I´m kinda depressed, too, knowing that my country has a President who´s embraced the KKK and Nazis. Let´s just pretend it never happened; that´ll make it better.

    On another note: that photo is something. It´s appropriate that he´s from Wisconsin, as he has gotta be the most bovine looking motha who´s ever been…

  4. So you assholes want to pretend that this didn’t happen? It doesn’t work like that. Just ask Heather’s mom.

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