Trump Praises Robert E. Lee, <br />Defends Charlottesville Comments The U.S. president made the comments after 2020 candidate Joe Biden criticized his past words on <br />the matter in a new ad. At the time, Trump said there were <br />"fine people on both sides," despite <br />one of the sides containing white nationalists. When talking to reporters, the president <br />continued to stand by his words. He also said that the removal of a statue of Lee was why the 2017 Charlottesville riots happened. President Donald Trump, <br />via press pool President Donald Trump, <br />via press pool The president added that Lee, the head of the Confederacy's armies, <br />is looked up to by current U.S. generals.
