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Jake Tapper Schools Paul Ryan On How To Respond To Nazis And Bigots

CNN’s Jake Tapper showed House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) how to unequivocally denounce the white supremacists and neo-Nazis who incited deadly violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this month.

Ryan appeared at a town hall meeting in Racine, Wisconsin, and was asked if he would condemn Donald Trump’s response to Charlottesville, in which the president blamed “both sides” for the events that unfolded.

The House speaker said the president “messed up” for making comments that were “morally ambiguous” and “confusing,” which caused Tapper to respond: “It wasn’t morally ambiguous. It was morally wrong, what the president said.”

The CNN host also called out Ryan for his reluctance to specifically criticize Trump for saying things like “very fine people” were marching among the white supremacists who carried swastikas and chanted, “Jews will not replace us.”

“There were not any ‘very fine people’ at that rally,” Tapper said to applause.

After Tapper’s clear response, Ryan said the CNN host was right.

“I totally agree with that,” Ryan said. Referring back to Trump’s response, Ryan added, “It was not only morally ambiguous, it was equivocating. And that was wrong.”

Watch the exchange in the two videos below.

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Four-year-old Leo Griffin leaves an Aug. 13 Chicago protest that mourned the victims of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the day before.
Four-year-old Leo Griffin leaves an Aug. 13 Chicago protest that mourned the victims of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, the day before.
People hold signs at a vigil on Aug. 13 in Chicago for the victims in the previous day's violent clashes in Charlottesville.
People hold signs at a vigil on Aug. 13 in Chicago for the victims in the previous day's violent clashes in Charlottesville.
People gather in downtown Chicago on Aug. 13 to protest the alt-right movement and to mourn Heather Heyer, who was killed in Charlottesville when a car plowed into a crowd of counterprotesters.
People gather in downtown Chicago on Aug. 13 to protest the alt-right movement and to mourn Heather Heyer, who was killed in Charlottesville when a car plowed into a crowd of counterprotesters.
Demonstrators hold signs outside the White House on Aug. 13 during a vigil in response to the death of a counterprotester in the Aug. 12 "Unite the Right" rally.
Demonstrators hold signs outside the White House on Aug. 13 during a vigil in response to the death of a counterprotester in the Aug. 12 "Unite the Right" rally.
A woman writes "Silence is Compliance" with a chalk on the ground at Federal Plaza Square in Chicago during an Aug. 13 protest in response to the violence that erupted in Charlottesville.
A woman writes "Silence is Compliance" with a chalk on the ground at Federal Plaza Square in Chicago during an Aug. 13 protest in response to the violence that erupted in Charlottesville.
People gather in downtown Chicago on Aug. 13 to protest the alt-right movement.
People gather in downtown Chicago on Aug. 13 to protest the alt-right movement.
Ahead of President Donald Trump's visit, about 400 demonstrators on Fifth Avenue near Trump Tower in New York attend a rally protesting the violence in Charlottesville.
Ahead of President Donald Trump's visit, about 400 demonstrators on Fifth Avenue near Trump Tower in New York attend a rally protesting the violence in Charlottesville.
A demonstrator holds a banner reading "Only 1 Side Love" during a protest at Federal Plaza Square in Chicago on Aug. 13.
A demonstrator holds a banner reading "Only 1 Side Love" during a protest at Federal Plaza Square in Chicago on Aug. 13.
People gather in front of the White House to hold a vigil on Aug. 13, one day after the violence in Charlottesville.
People gather in front of the White House to hold a vigil on Aug. 13, one day after the violence in Charlottesville.
A demonstrator holds a banner reading "Hate Has No Home Here. Love Will Win" during an Aug. 13 protest at Federal Plaza Square in Chicago.
A demonstrator holds a banner reading "Hate Has No Home Here. Love Will Win" during an Aug. 13 protest at Federal Plaza Square in Chicago.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.