Juan Williams Battles Jesse Watters on Claim of Trump Backers Not ‘Disrespecting’ People: Remember Charlottesville?

Following high-profile incidents this weekend involving White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders being asked to leave a Lexington, VA restaurant because the proprietor objected to her presence, and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) expressing support for such actions, two panelists on The Five battled it out over who is to blame for the overall lack of civility.

Juan Williams put the onus squarely on President Donald Trump.

“I didn’t see this happening under [former President Barack] Obama,” Williams said. “I don’t remember this happening under — even when there was anger at George W. Bush about not finding weapons of mass destruction…I don’t remember this kind of acting out on either side.”

Jesse Watters disagreed with his colleague.

“I don’t think it’s fair to criticize Donald Trump for people treating the people that work for him like animals,” Watters said. “That’s not right…When people protest Sarah Huckabee Sanders, you can’t blame that on Donald Trump. And you just did.”

“Oh my gosh,” an exasperated Williams replied. He added, “If you go to a Donald Trump rally, and Donald Trump is standing up there and saying, ‘I will pay legal fees if any of you want to beat up people.’ What is going on?”

Watters claimed the people doing so were paid protestors — a claim scoffed at by Williams.

Watters then said, “There hasn’t been examples of the radical, violent, and hateful Trump supporters disrespecting people in public places…like is happening on the other side.”

“What do you call that lady getting run over a year ago in Charlottesville, Jesse?” Williams said.

“I wouldn’t blame Donald Trump for that,” Watters said. “I would blame the individual.”

Watch above, via Fox News.

[featured image via screengrab]

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