Speaker Paul Ryan Tweets ‘White Supremacy Is Repulsive’ Minutes After Trump Says ‘Both Sides’ to Blame

‘There Can Be No Moral Ambiguity’

The third most powerful elected official in the United States effectively just rebuked the President, a member of his own party.

This is a rare moment, which should telegraph just how damaging President Donald Trump’s remarks Tuesday afternoon from Trump Tower actually were. They are being described as a meltdown and even the beginning of the end of his presidency. 

“We must be clear,” the Speaker of the House tweeted. “White supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for. There can be no moral ambiguity.”

Trump Tuesday afternoon all but offered support to the white supremacists who on Saturday in Charlottesville were violent and attacked thousands of peaceful protestors. The President Tuesday afternoon once again said “both sides” were to blame for the violence, and even told reporters the “alt-left” was equally to blame. On Saturday, a 32-year old woman, Heather Heyer, was killed by a white supremacist who plowed his car into a crowd of counter-protestors. 19 others were injured.

“What about the alt-left that came charging at the alt-right,” Trump asked reporters. “What about the fact that they came charging? Do they have any problem? I think they do.”

“You had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent.”

“I think there’s blame on both sides and I have no doubt about it,” a clearly agitated Trump cried out.

Speaker Ryan is the first and so far the only Republican congressman to speak out. 

Why does this matter?

Speaker Ryan literally holds Trump’s presidency in his hands. He can, at any time, support a vote on articles of impeachment. Or not.

After today’s events, it’s hard to see how he continues to rebuke Trump on Twitter and allow him to continue to hold the Office of the Presidency.

The Republican Party now owns the label of white supremacism supporters, whether they like it or not.

At this point, if Speaker Ryan does nothing, he will be complicit by extension. And so will every Republican, and every person in the Trump administration.

UPDATE: 6:55 PM –
Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the number two man in GOP House leadership, also effectively rebukes Trump:

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