Trump signs anti-white supremacy resolution from Congress

(Image credit: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images)

On Tuesday night, Congress sent President Trump a joint resolution that urged him to "speak out against hate groups that espouse racism, extremism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and white supremacy," and "use all resources available to the president and the president's Cabinet to address the growing prevalence of those hate groups in the United States." The measure, written and introduced by Virginia's entire congressional delegation, was a response to Trump's equivocal statements after the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville and structured as a joint resolution specifically so Trump would have to sign it. He did so on Thursday.

In a brief statement, the White House press secretary's office summarized what the resolution said and noted that Trump signed it. Trump's statement doesn't mention anti-Semitism or white supremacy by name, but conveys that message.

Still, the "speaking out" Trump did in person on Thursday may not have been what the resolution's drafters had in mind.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.