John Oliver slams Trump over Charlottesville: 'No point in waiting for leadership from our president in moments like this'
And specifically, Oliver voiced his frustrations on how President Trump handled it all.
On Saturday, white nationalists protested in the city against its plans to take down a statue of Confederate general Robert E. Lee. One person was killed and 19 injured after a car ran into a group of counter-protesters. This followed a day of protestors on both sides fighting one another through the streets of Charlottesville.
On Sunday's episode, Oliver pointed out that even after hours to come up with a powerful statement to keep the country at ease, Trump said the following at a press conference before a bill signing:
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on many sides," Trump said. "On many sides."
After the remarks, many took to social media, including Republicans, stating that Trump should have condemned the white nationalists.
"There honestly aren't many instances in modern American politics where you can honestly think, 'That guy really should have mentioned the Nazis,' but this is emphatically one of them," Oliver said.
Oliver also pointed out that at that press conference, Trump had two other chances to go harder on the white nationalists, but instead stayed quiet as reporters yelled out questions.
"It simply doesn't get easier than disavowing Nazis," Oliver said. "It's as much of a presidential gimme as pardoning a f-ing turkey. It is almost impossible to screw it up, but that's exactly what happened. So there is clearly no point in waiting for leadership from our president in moments like this because it is just not coming. Which means we will have to look to one another because incredibly, in a country where previous presidents have actually had to defeat Nazis, we now have one who cannot even be bothered to f-ing condemn them."
Watch Oliver's entire recap on Charlottesville below: