Republican lawmakers criticize Trump response to Charlottesville

By Julia Manchester - 08/12/17 06:34 PM EDT

Republican lawmakers went after President Trump on Saturday over his statement on violent clashes in Charlottesville, Va., with one senator saying Trump should call it a "terror attack by white supremacists." 

"Mr. President - we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism," Sen. Cory GardnerCory Scott GardnerGOP takes gloves off against Blankenship in West Virginia  Roy Moore: I could run for governor The Hill's Morning Report: Frustration mounts as Republicans blow up tax message MORE (R-Colo.) tweeted. 

Gardner was joined by Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioOvernight Finance: Trump looks to rescind B in spending | SEC Republican commish to retire, risking deadlock | House to vote Tuesday on repealing car loan guidelines Accused Parkland shooter assigned to program meant to limit on-campus arrests: report GOP rep writes WSJ op-ed criticizing Rubio tax comments MORE (R-Fla.) in directly calling out Trump. 

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"Very important for the nation to hear [President Trump] describe events in Charlottesville for what they are, a terror attack by white supremacists," Rubio said on Twitter. 

The Senate's second-highest ranking Republican, Sen. Orrin HatchOrrin Grant HatchReport: Hatch calls McCain request that Trump not attend his funeral 'ridiculous' Partisan push to take over the judiciary will diminish each Senator’s role in the end Romney praises Trump's first year in office: It's similar to things 'I'd have done' MORE (Utah), said not calling out neo-Nazis was personal for him, recalling his brother's death in World War II.

"We should call evil by its name. My brother didn't give his life fighting Hitler for Nazi ideas to go unchallenged here at home," Hatch tweeted.  

Trump condemned the "egregious" clashes at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday, but he avoided putting blame on any particular group, instead saying hatred by "many sides" were to blame.

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck GrassleyCharles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleySentencing reform is moving in the wrong direction FBI not requesting personal accounts from agents who exchanged text messages Pruitt’s renewable fuel attacks cost him GOP support in Congress MORE (R-Iowa) took to Twitter to say white nationalists were taking part in homegrown terrorism.  

"What 'White Nationalists' are doing in Charlottesville is homegrown terrorism that can't be tolerated anymore that what any extremist does," Grassley said. 

Republican Sens. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeFlake says he'll donate to Manchin if Blankenship wins primary GOP senator: It’s not that Blankenship 'can’t win,' it’s that he 'shouldn’t win' On World Press Freedom Day, elected officials must commit to keeping press freedom nonpartisan MORE (Ariz.) and Tim ScottTimothy (Tim) Eugene ScottJuan Williams: Trump's useful idiots Rubio: 'No evidence' that corporate tax cut is overwhelmingly benefiting workers Partisan tensions rise as Mueller bill delayed MORE (S.C.) also chimed in.

White nationalist, white supremacist and alt-right groups were initially scheduled to gather in Charlottesville's Emancipation Park Saturday to protest the city's decision to remove a Confederate statue there. 

But as clashes broke out ahead of the so-called "Unite the Right" rally Saturday morning, police declared the gathering an unlawful assembly, breaking up the event before it officially began.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) confirmed Saturday night that at least one counter-protester was killed in the violent clashes, and two police officers died in a nearby helicopter crash during the rally.

- This post was updated at 7:36 p.m. 

Tags Chuck Grassley Cory Gardner Orrin Hatch Marco Rubio Jeff Flake Tim Scott