New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Thursday called out President Donald Trump for creating an "atmosphere of hatred and division" in the United States, but said it will be up to Americans to solve the issues that are dividing the country, rather than expecting the president to change his tone.
"He has created an atmosphere of hatred and division in this country, but it's not new for Donald Trump," de Blasio told CNN's "New Day." "This was who he was back in the 1980s here in the city. This is who he is going to be."
His comments came as reports of explosive devices being addressed to Trump foe Robert De Niro's New York restaurant and former Vice President Joe Biden's Delaware home surfaced on Thursday, one day after someone tried to send devices to other leaders, including former President Barack Obama and to CNN.
However, de Blasio said he is "a little frustrated" that blame for everything comes back to Trump, and called on Americans to work on the issue.
"In the end this is an American problem,” the mayor added. “We have to solve it ourselves, as leaders but as every day Americans, we have to create an atmosphere of civility again, we have to create an atmosphere of mutual respect even if we disagree on things politically.”
That would also include more respect for the media, de Blasio said.
“You can disagree on the coverage of a story, you can disagree with an outlet, but respect the institution of the media because it protects our democracy,” he said. “Donald Trump is not going to change, we have to change."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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