Trump Praises Robert E. Lee, br Defends Charlottesville Comments The U.S. president made the comments after 2020 candidate Joe Biden criticized his past words on br the matter in a new ad. At the time, Trump said there were br "fine people on both sides," despite br one of the sides containing white nationalists. When talking to reporters, the president br continued to stand by his words. He also said that the removal of a statue of Lee was why the 2017 Charlottesville riots happened. President Donald Trump, br via press pool President Donald Trump, br via press pool The president added that Lee, the head of the Confederacy's armies, br is looked up to by current U.S. generals.