President Donald Trump needs to be clearer in condemning racist hate groups, according to Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford.
"The violence that happened in Charlottesville was solely the responsibility of white nationalists that were there that was provoking what was occurring," he told The Hill.
When asked about the violence, Trump has repeatedly stressed his belief that there were "very fine people on both sides" and that "many sides" were to blame.
"I think he could have been clearer on it, there's no question [about] that," Lankford added.
"I've made some statements of my own to be able to make very, very clear that we don't encourage or condone in any way racism."
The senator said that Trump's ambiguous statements have caused confusion that he needs to dispel.
"Any time he steps up and tries to equate two groups or two conversations, I think that muddies the water," Lankford said. "I just think you need to be very, very clear with the statements and how they're made."
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