Trump says it’s ‘sad’ to remove ‘beautiful’ statues and monuments memorializing leaders of the Confederacy. Sen. Mike Lee denounces Trump’s comments defending white supremacy. Utah National Guard member dies in Afghanistan.
Happy Thursday. After a tense few days of responding to the violence in Charlottesville, President Donald Trump took to Twitter on Thursday with another perspective: one that echoes white supremacy groups. The president said he is ”sad” to see ”the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments” that memorialize leaders of the Confederacy. ”You can’t change history, but you can learn from it,” he wrote in a series of tweets. “Robert E Lee, Stonewall Jackson - who’s next, Washington, Jefferson? So foolish!” [NYTimes]
Topping the news: Sen. Mike Lee took to Facebook to denounce President Donald Trump’s defense of white supremacy, making him the first and only member of Utah’s congressional delegation to criticize the president’s reaction to the violence in Charlottesville. [Trib]
-> A Utah National Guard member was killed in Afghanistan. [Trib]
-> Though Provo Mayor John Curtis declared victory in the Republican primary to replace retired Rep. Jason Chaffetz, the second place finisher hasn’t conceded the race. Chris Herrod, a former state lawmaker, says it’s still ”in the realm of possibility” that he could win after the remainder of the mail-in ballots are counted. [Trib]
Tweet of the day: From @KrangTNelson: “Millennials Are Killing The Racist Statue Industry”
In other news: The ACLU of Utah released a statement in response to Operation Rio Grande, saying it’s just a continuation of local leaders’ focus on law enforcement over treatment. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Utah officials broke ground for the new state prison in northwest Salt Lake City on Wednesday. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Should Utah invest less in mass transit? One group says it may soon be phased out by self-driving cars. [Trib]
-> In the days leading up to a vote for an interim Salt Lake County recorder, acting recorder Julie Dole has posted endorsements from her 2011 run for county GOP chairwoman causing some tensions. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> Columnist Michelle Quist explains why she doesn't support Dole’s run for interim recorder. [Trib]
Nationally: In response to President Donald Trump’s decision to double down on his view that ”both sides” were at fault in the violence in Charlottesville, Va., two of his business councils disintegrated. [NYTimes]
-> Hundreds gathered at the University of Virginia on Wednesday to remember Heather Heyer, the woman protesting a white nationalist rally who was killed in Charlottesville. [WaPost]
-> Steve Bannon, White House chief strategist, had a curious interview with The American Progress, where he called white supremacists ”losers” and said his rivals in the Departments of State and Defense are ”wetting themselves.” [WaPost]
-> South Korean President Moon Jae-in said that there won’t be a war on the Korean Peninsula because Trump promised to ask for permission before launching an attack on their northern counterpart. [NYTimes]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven’t already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox.
-- Courtney Tanner and Emily Anderson
Follow @sltribpolitics