1. SOUNDBITE (English) Mercedes Schlapp, White House Director of Strategic Communication:
"Reporter: So the shooter in the New Zealand attacks cited the president in his manifesto. I am just wondering if the White House has any reaction?
Yeah, it's outrageous to even make that connection between this deranged individual that committed this evil crime to the president who has repeatedly condemned bigotry, racism and has made it very clear that this is a terrorist attack. And we are there to support and stand with the people of New Zealand."
The White House rejected any link between the New Zealand mosque shooting and President Donald Trump.
"It's outrageous to even make that connection between this deranged individual that committed this evil crime to the president who has repeatedly condemned bigotry, racism and has made it very clear that this is a terrorist attack. And we are there to support and stand with the people of New Zealand," said Mercedes Schlapp, the White House's director of strategic communication.
"We are there to support and stand with the people of New Zealand," she said.
Trump sent his condolences Friday to the victims of the New Zealand mosque massacre but was himself mentioned in the self-proclaimed racist shooter's manifesto "as a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose," again casting an uncomfortable spotlight on the president's role for white supremacists.
The gunman, whose name was not immediately released, left behind a 74-page document that outlined his motivations for the monstrous shooting, which he livestreamed to the world.
He is a 28-year-old Australian white nationalist who hates immigrants and who set off by attacks in Europe that were perpetrated by Muslims.
He embraced Nazi imagery, voiced support for fascism and cheered on Trump.
"Were/are you a supporter of Donald Trump?" was one of the questions the manifesto's author posed to himself. "As a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose? Sure. As a policy maker and leader? Dear god no."
Trump tweeted that his "warmest sympathy and best wishes goes out to the people of New Zealand after the horrible massacre in the Mosques. 49 innocent people have so senselessly died, with so many more seriously injured. The U.S. stands by New Zealand for anything we can do. God bless all!"
Trump has long drawn criticism for being slow to condemn white supremacists and they violence they carry out.
Racial and ethnic discrimination , Race and ethnicity , Social issues , Social affairs , Racial and ethnic discrimination , Discrimination , Human rights and civil liberties , Hate groups , New Zealand mosque attacks
