Republicans including Paul Ryan and Marco Rubio were quick to speak out against President Trump's comments Tuesday that "both sides" were to blame for the violence in Charlottesville, Va., over the weekend. But that wasn't at all what the White House had planned. A memo of talking points sent to Republicans and other allies Tuesday called on them to declare Trump was "entirely correct," report CBS News and Fox News, which both obtained a copy. "Both sides of the violence in Charlottesville acted inappropriately, and bear some responsibility," the memo continued, noting Trump's comments reaffirmed that "we are equal in the eyes of our Creator, equal under the law, and equal under our Constitution."
The memo stressed that Trump "condemned—with no ambiguity—the hate groups fueled by bigotry and racism" and is "taking swift action to hold violent hate groups accountable," per Business Insider. After referring to Trump as "a voice for unity and calm," it called on leaders and the media to "join the president in trying to unite and heal our country rather than incite more division." Censure followed, however, from almost all sides. From Republicans, it was "swifter and more widespread than perhaps at any point in his presidency," reports Politico. A standout tweet from Rubio: "Mr. President, you can't allow #WhiteSupremacists to share only part of blame. They support idea which cost nation & world so much pain." (More President Trump stories.)