Republican senator says Trump’s Charlottesville response compromises Trump’s ability to lead – AOL
Republican Sen. Tim Scottcontinued to condemn President Donald Trump's defense of some protesters at a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last week.
In an interview on CBS' "Face The Nation" on Sunday, Scott explained his argument that Trump's response to Charlottesville "complicates his moral authority" to lead the nation by equating neo-Nazis with counter-protesters.
"It's going to be very difficult for this president to lead if, in fact, that moral authority remains compromised," Scott said.
RELATED:Tim Scott
5 PHOTOS
Tim Scott
See Gallery
TAYLOR, SC - APRIL 16: Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) visits Hidden Treasure Christian School in Taylors, South Carolina on Wednesday April 16, 2014. Here he watches teacher Stan Ellis, center, show Ryan Porter, 18, how to tamp down a seedling in the Vocational class. (Photo by Nanine Hartzenbusch for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES - APRIL 1: Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., speaks to a group of students from Greenville (SC) Tech Charter High School on the Senate steps outside of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, April 1, 2014. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Barry Black (from left), Carol Mosely Braun, Roland Burris, Tim Scott, Mo Cowan and Cory Booker participate at an event discussing their personal journeys and the nation's progress with America's black senators at the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. (Pete Marovich/MCT via Getty Images)
UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 25: Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., left, speaks during the 'Honoring our Past and Celebrating our Future: Discussing Personal Journeys and a Nation's Progress with America's Black Senators' event, hosted by Sen. Scott on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. Also pictured are U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black, former Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, D-Ill., and former Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
HIDE CAPTION
SHOW CAPTION
He added: "His comments on Tuesday that erased his positive comments on Monday started to compromise that moral authority that we need the president to have for this nation to be the beacon of light to all mankind."
Scott urged Trump to try and forge deeper connections with black communities, saying the president needs to "have a personal connection to the painful history of racism and bigotry of this country."
"It would be fantastic if he sat down with a group of folks who have endured the pain of the '60s, the humiliation of the '50s and the '60s," Scott said.
"This would be an opportunity for him to become better educated and acquainted with the living history of so many folks from John Lewis to my mother and so many others who have gone through a very painful part of the history of this country so that when he acts, when he responds, and when he speaks, he's not reading the words that are so positive that he's breathing the very air that brings him to a different conclusion."
The South Carolina senator has repeatedly criticized Trump's Charlottesville response.
Scott said earlier this week that Trump's bungled Charlottesville response could also weaken the GOP legislative drive in congress as Republicans hope to pass major tax reform and infrastructure bills and raise the debt ceiling.
"When there is confusion where there should be clarity, it emboldens those folks on the other side," Scott told Vice News on Thursday. "It does not encourage the team to work as hard as we should on those priorities because there is so much headwind that you can't see straight."
NOW WATCH: Chris Christie ruined his relationship with Trump because the president is a germaphobe
See Also:
SEE ALSO:A top Democratic group is running a chilling ad linking Trump to white supremacists
DON'T MISS:Trump's approval rating drops below 40% in key states that helped him win the election
Read more:
Republican senator says Trump's Charlottesville response compromises Trump's ability to lead - AOL
- How Wesley Hunt's entry into the Texas Senate race impacts Republican primary rivals Cornyn and Paxton - CBS News - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- Analyzing Dominion Voting Systems sale to firm run by ex-Republican elections official - NPR - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES ON MSNBC: WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS REPUBLICAN HEALTHCARE CRISIS - Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (.gov) - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: "THIS HAS BEEN AN ALL-OUT REPUBLICAN ASSAULT ON THE HEALTHCARE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE" - Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries... - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- Democrats have upper hand in shutdown because Republican voters like Obamacare | Opinion - USA Today - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- Watson Coleman Tours Organizations Impacted by Republican Shutdown and Cuts - Insider NJ - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- Oct. 13, 2025: Around the Region - Pottsville Republican Herald - October 13th, 2025 [October 13th, 2025]
- Republican U.S. Senate race in Georgia is still searching for a front-runner - AJC.com - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Obamacare Enrollment by State: Most Enrollees Live in Republican Areas - The New York Times - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Top Republican Throws Massive Wrench in Shutdown Standoff - The Daily Beast - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Former Republican elections official buys Dominion Voting, the company at the center of false 2020 conspiracy theories - Fortune - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Dominion Voting Systems sold to company run by former Republican election official - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Congresswoman Escobar Withholds Her Pay for Duration of the Republican Government Shutdown - Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (.gov) - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Rep. Jimmy Gomez and Dads Caucus Call on Republican Leadership to End Shutdown and Protect Affordable Health Care - U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez... - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Everyone is confused about Tylenol and autism, but Republican women lean toward believing RFK - The 19th News - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Letitia James is the biggest hypocrite of them all, Republican strategist says - Fox News - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Griffith is only Republican in Virginia delegation not to call for Jones to quit race - Cardinal News - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Laura Loomer vs. Pete Hegseth: Is Trump's 'biggest' supporter leaving Republican Party? What we know - Hindustan Times - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Republican Leaders Show No Signs of Changing Their Shutdown Strategy - NOTUS News of the United States - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Republican Military Wife Rebukes Mike Johnson on Live TV'Very Disappointed' - Newsweek - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Texas Troops in Illinois Criticized by Republican Governor - Newsweek - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Republican voter registration surges in N.J. as political landscape shifts. See the numbers. - NJ.com - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Republican Governors Eagerly Join Trumps Military Campaign Against Blue Cities - The Intercept - October 11th, 2025 [October 11th, 2025]
- Temple alums debut book reveals Phillys ties to Irish Republican Army gun smuggling during the Troubles - Temple University - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- DAY 8 OF THE TRUMP-REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN: How is the Trump-Republican Shutdown Making It Easier to Scam Investors? - U.S. House Committee on Financial... - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Walberg, Michigan Republican Delegation Send Letter to Michigan Senators Urging Them to End Shutdown - Congressman Tim Walberg | (.gov) - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES ON MSNBC: "WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE REPUBLICAN HEALTHCARE CRISIS" - Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (.gov) - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Press Release: Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester Urges Republican Colleagues to Prioritize Government Reopening and Health Care in Committee Remarks -... - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Press Release: Hoyer Addresses Health Care Shutdown Impact in Hearing on Republican Governance - Quiver Quantitative - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- Lee County Republican group pushes to rename Summerlin Rd to Charlie Kirk Blvd - Gulf Coast News and Weather - October 9th, 2025 [October 9th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES ON THE TODAY SHOW: THE WHITE HOUSE AND REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE GONE RADIO SILENT Congressman Hakeem Jeffries - Congressman Hakeem... - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- US Senate rejects Republican spending bill to end government shutdown - Anadolu Ajans - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- US Senate rejects both Republican and Democrats bill to end government shutdown - TRT World - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES ON MEET THE PRESS: WE HAVE TO DECISIVELY ADDRESS THIS REPUBLICAN HEALTHCARE CRISIS Congressman Hakeem Jeffries - Congressman Hakeem... - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Abbott Appoints Republican Harris County Criminal Court Judge Three Years After Disputed Election - The Texan - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Fact Check Team: Key differences between the Republican and Democratic funding proposals - KBAK - October 7th, 2025 [October 7th, 2025]
- Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones under fire over resurfaced text messages suggesting Republican should get "bullets to the... - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- How Democrats are trying to bust Republican lies about healthcare for undocumented immigrants - The Guardian - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- DAY 3 OF THE TRUMP-REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN: How will the Trump-Republican Shutdown Worsen the Housing and Homelessness Crisis? - U.S. House Committee on... - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Freed, McMartin crowned Grundy Center Homecoming royalty - Times Republican - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- Correction: Republican Climer running for South Carolina congressional District 5 - The Item - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- This Republican Assemblymember Wants to Split California in Two - KQED - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN DAY 2: Senator Murray, WA Hospital Leaders Lay Out How the Republican Health Care Crisis is Defunding Hospitals, Forcing Premiums... - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- The Shutdown Is Part of the Republican Plan to Hobble Government - Bloomberg.com - October 4th, 2025 [October 4th, 2025]
- How States Are Reckoning with Republican Health Reforms - Tradeoffs - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Brownley Statement on Republican Shutdown of the Federal Government - Congresswoman Julia Brownley (.gov) - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: THE REPUBLICAN HEALTHCARE CRISIS IS IMMORAL IN NATURE AND DEMOCRATS ARE FIGHTING HARD TO REVERSE IT Congressman Hakeem Jeffries -... - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- What to Know About a Republican Government Shutdown - Congressman Gabe Amo (.gov) - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Fact-checking Republican claims about healthcare for immigrants that are fueling shutdown - CBS News - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Oregon Republican lawmakers say they will attempt to put transportation tax hikes on next years ballot - OregonLive.com - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- The Republican Shutdown Argument is a Giant Lie - The Bulwark - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Republican lawmakers demand answers after non-citizen flagged as active Maryland voter - WBFF - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Whip Clark Statement on the Republican Shutdown - Katherine Clark Democratic Whip | (.gov) - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Republican Calls for Lawmaker Pay To Be Suspended Amid Government Shutdown - Newsweek - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Oregon Republican Party leader on deploying National Guard troops in Portland - Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- How Charlie Kirks death has galvanized Republican voters who blame the left for political violence - CNN - October 2nd, 2025 [October 2nd, 2025]
- Crunch time: Democrats ready for shutdown standoff over Republican health cuts - The Guardian - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- VP Vance and Congressional Republican Leaders Speak to Reporters at the White House - C-SPAN - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Senator Murray Remarks on Senate Republican Bill to Empower Trump with a Forever CRGiving Up Lawmakers Power Over Spending - Senator Patty Murray... - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Trump's big bill is prompting urgent action in some Democratic states, but not in Republican ones - ABC News - Breaking News, Latest News and Videos - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Wisconsin Republican Bill Berrien quits governor's race amid fallout over sexually explicit links - CBS News - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Ex-Republican South Carolina House member admits to distributing hundreds of child sex abuse videos - Yahoo - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Judges bestow honors on The Republican staff, daily and Sunday editions - MassLive - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Washington's Republican representatives sign letter seeking 'equitable allocation' of new fund for rural hospitals - KREM - September 30th, 2025 [September 30th, 2025]
- Harmful Republican Megabill and Trump Tariffs Would Leave All But the Wealthiest 10% of Households Worse Off - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Ahead of Possible Republican Shutdown, Amo Rallies with Patients and Providers to Stop Further Health Insurance Hikes - Congressman Gabe Amo (.gov) - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Republican Arizona lawmaker makes post calling for execution of Democratic congresswoman - The Guardian - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- MichMash: Recapping the Mackinac Republican Leadership Conference - WDET 101.9 FM - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Republican candidate drops out of governors race; Lamont still silent on plan to run - WFSB - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Going on a joy ride - Times Republican - September 28th, 2025 [September 28th, 2025]
- Republican Darren Bailey launches second bid for governor with strategy to connect better with Chicago voters - Chicago Tribune - September 26th, 2025 [September 26th, 2025]
- The Republican Megabills Many Harms and Misdirected Priorities, in Charts - Center on Budget and Policy Priorities - September 26th, 2025 [September 26th, 2025]
- Trump manages another Republican makeover, this time on free speech and cancel culture - PBS - September 26th, 2025 [September 26th, 2025]
- Republican Darren Bailey visits Bloomington as he joins race for governor a second time - WGLT - September 26th, 2025 [September 26th, 2025]
- Where Senate Republican allies are spending big in 2026 - Axios - September 26th, 2025 [September 26th, 2025]
- Republican officials announce $105M in federal money coming to Ohio charter schools - The Statehouse News Bureau - September 26th, 2025 [September 26th, 2025]
- LEADER JEFFRIES: WE DO NOT SUPPORT THIS PARTISAN REPUBLICAN SPENDING BILL BECAUSE IT CONTINUES TO GUT THE HEALTHCARE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ... - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Republican aiming to flip blue state rips Dem rival for blaming 'everything on Trump - Fox News - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore gains support from 6 Republican leaders in reelection bid - WBAL News Radio - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]
- Republican Who Has Criticized the Police Wins Major Unions Endorsement - The New York Times - September 25th, 2025 [September 25th, 2025]