Displaying Confederate flags is freedom of speech, President Donald Trump said.
“All I say is freedom of speech. Its very simple,” Trump said. “My attitude is freedom of speech. Very strong views on the Confederate flag. With me, its freedom of speech. Very simple. Like it, dont like it, its freedom of speech.”
Asked if he would be comfortable with supporters bringing the flags to events, Trump said it “depends on what your definition is.”
“But I am comfortable with freedom of speech. Its very simple,” he added.
In response to the suggestion that its a painful symbol due to its association with slavery, Trump said he knows people who like the Confederate flag “and theyre not thinking about slavery.”
“Whether its Confederate flags, or Black Lives Matter, or anything else you want to talk about—its freedom of speech,” the president said.
Trump was speaking in an interview with CBS News Catherine Herridge that was conducted before his press conference announcing new sanctions against Chinese officials.
The line of questioning began with Herridge referring to Trump saying in 2015 that the Confederate flag flown in front of South Carolinas Capitol should be taken down and placed in a museum.
Trump more recently has come out in support of people who want to fly the flag.
“My stance is very simple: Its freedom of speech,” he toldRead More From Source
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