President Trump sparks controversy with latest comments about Charlottesville violence

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – President Donald Trump sparked controversy Tuesday when he spoke about the white nationalist rally that turned violent with counterprotestors this weekend in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Trump said both sides share blame, which has set off a firestorm of criticism from all sides, including his own party, across the country and in Michigan.

I've condemned neo-Nazis," Trump said. "I've condemned many different groups, but not all of those people were neo-Nazis."

READ: Residents of Ohio town horrified by connection to car attack at Charlottesville rally

Trump's comments sparked outrage on social media and cable television, including from his own party.

"You had very bad people in that group, but you also had people that were very fine people on both sides," Trump said.

That was the line that caused the most controversy. State Rep. Paul Mitchell said a white supremacist can't be a very fine person, and that sentiment was echoed by many of his Republican colleagues.

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters said the president blames many sides, but he should know white supremacists and neo-Nazis sow hate and violence.

The rally was organized as a Unite the Right rally and it featured neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, complete with imagery and chanting of slogans.

House Speaker Paul Ryan said to be clear, white supremacy is repulsive, and the bigotry is counter to all the United States stands for. He said there can be no moral ambiguity.

James Fields, the Ohio man who drove his car into a crowd of counterprotestors and killed a young woman, has been espousing Nazi ideas since he was in middle school.