Trump calls Black Lives Matter 'divisive', criticizes police shootings
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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said the Black Lives Matter movement was "dividing America" Tuesday following a week of protests over the shooting of African-American men by police.
Speaking to Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, Trump described the movement's name as "very divisive" and criticized alleged calls to honor the sniper who shot five Dallas police officers last week with a moment of silence.
"I would say they're dividing America," Trump said, adding "I think they're hurting themselves."
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Trump also called the shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile "very, very sad." He specifically criticized the shooting of Sterling in Baton Rouge, calling it "a terrible, disgusting performance" by the police.
However, Trump later called himself a big fan of law enforcement and noted that police shootings "get broadcast ... and they don't show all the good work the police does."
The real estate mogul also criticized President Barack Obama, calling him the "divider-in-chief" and blaming a lack of national spirit for the ongoing racial strife.
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"The country doesn't have any spirit," Trump said. "Things are not going well and I think they're going to be worse before they get better."