Conservatives: Trump Was Forced to Make Stronger Statements

In the immediate aftermath of President Donald Trump's stirring remarks about the events in Virginia over the weekend, the reaction from conservative voices seemed to be in agreement about two key points:

• Trump was forced into a stronger condemnation of white nationalists.
• Strong as it was, it might not have been enough to appease mainstream media.

Republican strategist and media consultant Rick Wilson said Trump's speech, during which he condemned the violence in Charlottesville in the strongest possible terms, was an admission Trump's lack of a strong response over the weekend was "hurting them."

1/ Speech was a sign they know how badly this was hurting them. Those *words* were Presidential but it took 48 hours, and thus rings false.

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 14, 2017

I've coached a LOT of speeches and debates. A. LOT.

He was not happy. He was checking a box, performing a script he didn't like. https://t.co/ZeT7KIpJv7

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 14, 2017

It was a sentiment shared by Bill O'Reilly:

President Trump forced to issue stronger statement on Charlottesville. Why? Behind the scenes, No Spin News tonight- https://t.co/rryWmyXe7C

— Bill O'Reilly (@billoreilly) August 14, 2017

And others wondered if it would be enough for the mainstream media:

I would have been happy with any criticism of Antifa. CNN still not satisfied w/ @realDonaldTrump denunciation of KKK. It will ever be enuf.

— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) August 14, 2017

"Trump's message today was undoubtedly strong, but is it too little, too late?" wrote Autumn Price for The Resurgent.

• Pence Defends Trump on Charlottesville, Slams Media
• RNC Chair Romney McDaniel: We Denounce White Supremacists