Johnson ‘Not Entirely’ Comfortable With Trump’s Response To Charlottesville Violence

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said he’s “not entirely” comfortable with President Trump’s latest remarks on the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, but Johnson said he does not think Trump is a racist and he will continue to support the president on areas where they agree.

Trump said Tuesday there is “blame on both sides” for the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer, who was killed when a car drove into a crowd of people where she was protesting a white nationalist rally.

Asked whether it bothered him that the president continued to equivocate on the issue, Johnson demurred.

“It’d be nice to move that issue behind us,” Johnson said. “You tell me what he needs to say so we can move beyond this.”

While Johnson said he’s not entirely comfortable with Trump’s response, he said he did not think Trump was a racist.

“I just don’t think so,” Johnson said. “Do you have any other questions? I think we’ve covered this one well enough.”

At one point, Johnson was asked whether Trump should be removed from office, a prospect raised by U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee.

“On what grounds?” Johnson said. “Listen, the American people elected Donald Trump, and I’m not sure he’s changed much from what he was during the campaign. So again, I see no grounds for that.”

Johnson said he was personally troubled by the events of Charlottesville.

“I find it depressing that a young woman who was basically pushing back against people who were flying under a flag of an ideology that is simply evil lost her life,” Johnson said.

But Johnson did not push for Trump to say more.

“I’m not going to speak for the president,” Johnson said. “I speak for myself. I have totally denounced it.”

Also on Wednesday, Gov. Scott Walker denounced all hate. Referring to the white supremacists involved in the violent rally Saturday, Walker said, “I categorically denounce them and their actions, and obviously am concerned anytime there is a series of violence whether it’s here or anywhere else across the country.”

Walker made the comments during a round table event in Green Bay. He did not comment directly about President Trump’s comments Tuesday, but did join other Republicans in blaming the white nationalists.

“The impetus for all this revolves around the white supremacists and affiliated groups,” Walker said.

“It shouldn’t be something that’s partisan in basis,” Walker also said. “I mean, if we’ve got groups anywhere across the country, around the world that are involved in hate, as Americans, as free and loving people, as good and decent people as we are here in this state, we should denounce that. And certainly should denounce anyone no matter what their background who wants to motivate or encourage acts of violence.”

Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke told the Wisconsin State Journal on Wednesday that he “completely” disagrees with Trump’s assertion there are “very fine people on both sides.”

“I don’t think it’s possible to be racist and a white nationalist and be a decent human being,” he said. “There is no place for these kinds of racists in the Republican Party.”

Steineke told the newspaper “this isn’t the time for moral equivalency” and wishes Trump would “stop rationalizing.”

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said Wednesday every elected official in the U.S. has a moral responsibility to condemn Trump’s comments on last week’s violence.

Barrett said by saying “both sides” were to blame for the conflict, the president has given white supremacists a “lane where they can whitewash history.”

“I am disappointed,” Barrett said. “I think this is a time where you have to put partisanship aside and you have to talk about what’s right. This is not even a close call. This is the President of the United States who is purposefully trying to draw a moral equivalency between white supremacists and people who object to white supremacy.”

Barrett said in Wisconsin, Walker and Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan have not directly criticized the president.

Ryan tweeted Tuesday evening: “We must be clear. White supremacy is repulsive. This bigotry is counter to all this country stands for. There can be no moral ambiguity.”

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include original reporting from WPR’s Patty Murray and Chuck Quirmbach. The Associated press contributed to this story.