President Donald Trump addressed the attempted attacks against the Clintons, Obamas, CNN and other political figures with explosive devices on Wednesday, briefly condemning “acts or threats of political violence,” but failing to mention the names of any of the people and groups targeted.
“It’s a very bipartisan statement, I can tell you from both sides we both agree on that. This egregious conduct is abhorrent to everything we hold dear and sacred as Americans,” he added.
Trump’s comments were met with a standing ovation from the crowd gathered to hear Trump speak at an opioid event at the White House.
Trump condemns acts of political violence pic.twitter.com/jAKGs6bi5h
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) October 24, 2018
Notably, Trump didn’t mention that the attacks were against the political opponents he most often publicly drags and a news organization he regularly denounces as “FAKE NEWS.” In her opening remarks, Melania Trump did mention Obama and Clinton and their families, but referred to CNN and the other targets as “organizations.”
Neither of the Trumps acknowledged the ongoing investigation into an explosive device that was discovered Tuesday outside a home owned by liberal billionaire George Soros’s company.
Those opening comments were the most forceful denunciation of the attacks seen yet from the President, who initially responded this morning by retweeting Vice President Mike Pence’s condemnation saying “I agree wholeheartedly!”
In addition to the Clintons and the Obamas, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), former Attorney General Eric Holder under Obama and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) were reportedly targeted with the suspicious packages and explosive devices on Wednesday. CNN, as well as a newspaper in San Diego, were also sent suspicious packages. Law enforcement described the device sent to CNN as a “pipe bomb.”
