WASHINGTON, D.C. - As he prepared to visit survivors of a Sunday morning shooting in Dayton that took nine lives, President Donald Trump on Wednesday denied his rhetoric has emboldened white nationalists and inspired anger, noting that the Ohio gunman favored the presidential candidacies of Democrats Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
“He was a fan of Antifa, he was a fan of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, nothing to do with Trump,” he told reporters as he left the White House for Dayton. “But nobody ever mentions that.”
He told reporters his rhetoric “brings people together,” and said he’s “concerned about the rise of any group of hate.
“Whether it’s white supremacy, whether it’s any other kind of supremacy, whether it’s Antifa, whether it’s any group of hate, I am very concerned about it,” Trump said. “And I’ll do something about it.”
Trump said people who commit mass shootings are “really mentally ill, mentally disturbed,” and that he plans to meet with members of Congress to come up with legislation to address the problem.
“Well, I’m looking to do background checks,” Trump told reporters. " I think background checks are important. I don’t want to put guns into the hands of mentally unstable people or people with rage or hate, sick people."
He said he does not believe there’s any “political appetite” for banning assault rifles, or large-capacity magazines.
“I think there’s a great appetite to do something with regard to making sure that mentally unstable, seriously ill people aren’t carrying guns,” said Trump. “And I’ve never seen the appetite as strong as it is now. I have not seen it with regard to certain types of weapons.”
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