Vice President Mike Pence said the media is more concerned with attacking President Trump’s response to the weekend violence in Charlottesville, Virginia than the violence itself, during an NBC News appearance Monday morning.
“Many in the media spent an awful lot of time focusing on what the president said and criticisms of what the president said instead of criticizing those who brought that hatred and violence to the streets of Charlottesville,” Pence told NBC News’ Peter Alexander.
Trump condemned “hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides” over the weekend, causing many to fixate on the fact that the president didn’t signal out the white supremacists responsible for the violence. Pence said that the administration has condemned the violence, despite the criticism.
“We will not tolerate hatred and violence of groups like white supremacists, the KKK and neo-Nazis. These extremist fringe groups have no place in the American debate,” Pence said.
Alexander asked if the president should have specifically called out white supremacists.
“I think the president yesterday spoke to a national moment, words the American people needed to hear — that we condemn acts of violence, acts of hatred,” Pence said. “The president called on our nation to look for ways to come together, to make sure that these extremist groups are pushed out of the public debate and not given the attention that they too often receive.”
Alexander pressed Pence to name the “many sides” who caused violence over the weekend, noting that white supremacists were the primary group, but Pence didn’t give a direct response.
Groups of white nationalists descended on Charlottesville over the weekend to protest the planned removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee, and were met by counter-protesters, leading to violence that began Friday night. Unrest intensified on Saturday, as a vehicle plowed into a group of counter-protesters at a white nationalist rally, killing Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal from Virginia, and injuring 19 others. More than 30 were hurt in total as a result of events at the rally.
Take a Tour of the Hilarious, Fake Mike Pence Site That Fooled a Lot of People (Photos)
There's been mounting speculation that Mike Pence might stage a run for President in 2020 if Donald Trump is unable to run, but of course the VP has denied that. However, plenty of people were fooled by a fake website declaring Pence the 46th President of the United States -- many of them thinking he'd been hacked. The website, officialmikepence.com, is loaded with jabs at Pence's views on LGBT individuals and the alleged claims that he refers to his wife as "mother." Click through for some of the site's wildest jokes.
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The main gag is that this is a secret website, with a banner that says "Private Link: Do Not Share," as though it needs to be kept out of view of Trump.
Turns out that Pence's running mate in 2020 is none other than the Son of God himself, "Christ."
A fake campaign ad with hilarious smash cuts goes as far as to outright ask you to call him The President of the United States.
Next to "Mike Facts" with absurdly bland comments like "Mike Pence likes to watch movies" is a banner ad that reads "Number of Gays Who Have Returned to the Lord."
Don't forget to read the fine print, which promises a Russian translation coming soon, and a helpful link for those searching for the bodybuilder also named Mike Pence.
Pence's "bio" says he's "proud to serve the white and Christian population of America." It even recalls the time he exposed and boycotted Disney's "Mulan" saying women shouldn't be in the military, which is totally real.
This disturbing image of five smiling white children calls to "return this country back to its rightful owners."
If you really want to get to know the man, check out Pence's "What I Ate" section. Here's a menu sampling: "3 egg whites with mayonnaise vinaigrette, four hard boiled eggs, unbuttered white toast and a corn smoothie."
Did you know that Pence's "favorite type of technology is radio" and that he can "play all of 'Joker' by Steve Miller Band on guitar except the slide part after 'Some people call me Maurice?'" Now you do.
In the "Mother May I" tab, Pence's wife Karen answers questions from "the community," a.k.a. Pence himself. Pro tip: You're not allowed to eat alone with a woman other than your wife.
A helpful banner ad asking if you're a homosexual takes you "straight" to hell.com.
As President, Pence promises to deport "Italians, Jewish Persons, All mirrors in women's bathrooms, and men wearing boxer briefs."
The issues matter to Pence. His belief: "Corn is our country, and our country is corn."
Don't forget to stop at the Official Mike Pence store, where you can pick up an autographed copy of the Bible, Vasoline for the corner of your mouth, and a $72 "Shame Cube" to wear over your head.
There's been mounting speculation that Mike Pence might stage a run for President in 2020 if Donald Trump is unable to run, but of course the VP has denied that. However, plenty of people were fooled by a fake website declaring Pence the 46th President of the United States -- many of them thinking he'd been hacked. The website, officialmikepence.com, is loaded with jabs at Pence's views on LGBT individuals and the alleged claims that he refers to his wife as "mother." Click through for some of the site's wildest jokes.