'Blatant Smear': Trump Attacks Boston Anti-Racism Demonstrators as 'Anti-Police Agitators'

Tens of thousands "peacefully protest a neo-Nazi rally, and this is the best the president of the United States can do. Resign," wrote Washington Monthly's David Atkins. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)

'Blatant Smear': Trump Attacks Boston Anti-Racism Demonstrators as 'Anti-Police Agitators'

"Again, this man attacks anti-Nazi protesters. He's determined to create a culture war in America to distract from his unethical failures."

After declaring during a press conference on Tuesday that there were many "very fine people" in attendance at the white supremacist rally that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend, President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Saturday to launch an attack on the thousands of anti-racist demonstrators in Boston, labeling them "anti-police agitators."

An hour later, Trump was back on Twitter, this time to "applaud the many protestors in Boston who are speaking out against bigotry and hate."

Many, given the timing and the tone of the previous tweet, were unconvinced of the follow-up's sincerity.

The initial tweet sparked immediate backlash, as commentators called the "anti-police agitators" remark a "blatant smear," and highlighted the fact that Trump continues to attack anti-racist demonstrations while defending neo-Nazis.

"There's nothing more patriotic than resisting racism and hatred," wrote Christian Christensen, a journalism professor at Stockholm University, in response to Trump's tweet. "There's nothing more cowardly than pandering to it."

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