Trump in 2015: Would take Confederate Flags Down

[Adelaide]

When he was still running for president in June 2015, Trump was asked whether or not the Confederate flag flying above the South Carolina state house needed to be taken down. “I think it probably does, and I think they should put it in the museum,” he replied. “Let it go. Respect whatever it is you have to respect because it was a point in time, and put it in a museum. But I would take it down, yes.”

That contrasts sharply with Trump’s statements this week about symbols of the Confederacy in the wake of the violence in Charlottesville.

“Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments,” Trump said in a series of tweetson Aug. 17. “You can’t change history, but you can learn from it. Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson – who’s next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish! Also the beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!”

Candidate Donald Trump once said he'd take down a confederate flag.


He is using this issue to pander to his base.

[Mister D]

Looks like he correctly predicted this would not stop with symbols of the Confederacy. I've been saying that for years.

[Omar]

I feel no connection to the Confederate flag, nor do I care about it. But I don't live in the south. My impression as a youngster was that the confederate flag was just a way to express pride in being from the south. I think the southern states should decide whether or not they get rid of the flag, like Mississippi did. It shouldn't be up to the federal government. It shouldn't be a national issue, we have enough problems. Let the states decide for themselves.

[carolina73]

I live in SC and I have no problem with Governor Haley removing the flag from the statehouse. I don't have a problem with MS voting to remove their either.

We are not talking about government buildings anymore.

[Tahuyaman]

Candidate Donald Trump once said he'd take down a confederate flag.


He is using this issue to pander to his base.

Removing these symbols and placing then in a museum as Trump then advocated is much different that destroying those same symbols and erasing them from our history.

[Green Arrow]

Removing these symbols and placing then in a museum as Trump then advocated is much different that destroying those same symbols and erasing them from our history.

Much like you, I too immediately forgot who Christopher Columbus was when his statue came down.

[Tahuyaman]

Much like you, I too immediately forgot who Christopher Columbus was when his statue came down.

Irrelevant.

[Green Arrow]

Irrelevant.

How so? You said we were erasing history.