Trump Defends ‘Very Fine People’ Remarks About Charlottesville Protests

President Trump on Friday defended his reference to “very fine people” on both sides of the riots in Charlottesville in 2017, saying he was referring to people who wanted to preserve a statute of Confederate general Robert E. Lee.

“I’ve answered that question,” Mr. Trump told White House reporters. “I was talking about people that went because they felt very strongly about the monument to Robert E. Lee — a great general, whether you like it or not.”

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“People were there protesting the taking down of the monuments,” Mr. Trump said.

The president noted that today’s generals still compliment Lee’s ability as a military leader.

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