Much of the conversation surrounding Saturday's deadly shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue has examined the question of whether and how President Trump's rhetoric encourages extremism. Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley thinks that's not fair.
In a Monday night tweet, she argued that just as then-President Barack Obama was not blamed for a white supremacist's murderous attack on a black church in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015, so Trump should not be linked to what happened in Pittsburgh:
Trump himself made a similar claim Monday about Cesar Sayoc, the man accused of mailing pipe bombs to prominent Democratic and media figures last week. Sayoc is an avid Trump supporter — his van is plastered with pro-Trump stickers — but Trump believes reporting that fact is unfair.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I was in the headline of The Washington Post, my name associated with this crazy bomber," he said. "They didn't do that with President Obama with the church, the horrible situation with the church — they didn't do that."
Three things here: First, Obama wasn't linked to the shooting in Charleston in this manner because the racist shooter was not a devoted supporter of the country's first black president. Second, Obama was criticized by some on the right for allegedly exacerbating race relations with his response to Charleston. And third, Haley herself, then governor of South Carolina, laid blame for Charleston on Trump's rhetoric. "I know what that rhetoric can do," she said. "I saw it happen."
-
6 lush homes in the treesFeature Featuring a glass house in Texas and a home built for a Broncos quarterback in Colorado
-
7 travel fragrances that let you smell good on the goThe Week Recommends Spritz away!
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records requestSpeed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Third judge rejects DOJ's Epstein records request
Speed Read Judge Richard Berman was the third and final federal judge to reject DOJ petitions to unseal Epstein-related grand jury material
-
Texas OKs gerrymander sought by TrumpSpeed Read The House approved a new congressional map aimed at flipping Democratic-held seats to Republican control
-
Israel starts Gaza assault, approves West Bank planSpeed Read Israel forces pushed into the outskirts of Gaza City and Netanyahu's government gave approval for a settlement to cut the occupied Palestinian territory in two
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutionalSpeed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for riflesSpeed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBISpeed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summitSpeed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
DC protests as Trump deployment ramps upSpeed Read Trump's 'crusade against crime' is targeting immigrants and the homeless
