Call it what it is

Over the past two years Trump hasn’t once failed to use the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism” when decrying jihadist attacks. I find it disturbing that he not only refused to call out the radical alt-right terrorist behind the attack, but even failed to describe it as an act of terror in his first comments on the day of the incident. His second attempt to address the issue on Monday fell far short of a clarion call against white supremacist groups. His stilted reading of the scripted statement one of his staff wrote for him was obviously an insincere attempt to tamp down the nationwide, bipartisan disgust that met his initial reaction, and again failed to call it an act of terror.

I can only speculate that Trump fears losing that portion of his base of support, or he has fallen under the influence of his alt-right advisers, Bannon and Gorka, and has become a believer in their white supremacist philosophy.

Kirk Jackson

Spokane