'New York hates you': Anti-Trump protesters give President ugly 'welcome home' on first trip to penthouse since election
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Donald Trump was given an ugly 'welcome home' on his first return to his New York penthouse since becoming President.
Thousands of angry protesters filled the streets opposite Trump Tower in Manhattan carrying placards denouncing Trump and chanted: "New York hates you"
Trump sunk to a new low over the weekend when he took three days to finally condemn white supremacists who sparked violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.
It left protester Heather Heyer dead while two State Troopers also died when their helicopter crashed during the security operation.
Far-right supporter James Alex Fields Jr, 20, has been charged with murder over Heather's death after he ploughed his car into a crowd.
A further 20 were injured.
(Image: REUTERS)
(Image: Splash News)
(Image: Splash News)
(Image: Splash News)
(Image: Splash News)
(Image: Splash News)
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Despite the horror, Trump only issued a hurried condemnation of the neo-Nazi thugs after days of intense criticism.
Speaking from the White House, the President said racist violence had "no place in America" and branded racism "evil."
Fury as Donald Trump refuses to directly condemn white supremacists who chanted Nazi slogan in Charlottesville rally
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(Image: Splash News)
(Image: AFP)
(Image: REUTERS)
Downing Street says Donald Trump's statements are 'a matter for him' after he fails to directly condemn white supremacists
But it was too little too late for many who believe the President has emboldened far-Right extremists in the US with his racist comments.
He will stay in Trump Tower on Monday night for the first time since his inauguration in January.
And protesters made sure the 71-year-old New Yorker faced an unpleasant return home.
Dozens of sanitation trucks were lined up in front of the hotel to protect the lobby, but in the end the President's motorcade snuck in via a side entrance.
Trump returned to Washington from his New Jersey golf club on Monday morning to take meetings.
(Image: Splash News)
He met with FBI director Andrew McCabe and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and announced the Department of Justice had opened a civil rights investigation into the Charlottesville car attack.
Trump said: "To anybody who acted criminally in this weekend's racist violence, you will be held fully accountable. Justice will be delivered.
"As I said on Saturday, we condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence. It has no place in America.
And as I have said many times before, no matter the colour of our skin, we all live under the same laws. We all salute the same great flag. And we are all made by the same almighty god.
(Image: AFP)
(Image: AFP)
"We must love each other, show affection for each other and unite together in condemnation of hatred, bigotry and violence. We must rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans.
"Racism is evil, and those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans."
He added: "Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America."
He paid tribute to the young woman killed in the attack, Heather Heyer.
"He death fills us with grief," he said. "And we send her family our thoughts, our prayers and our love."
He also paid tribute to the two Virginia state troopers, Jay Cullen and Berke Bates, who died in a helicopter accident while policing the rally.