Mnuchin tells Yale classmates: Trump does not equate neo-Nazis with peaceful protestersWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Urged by his Yale University classmates to resign as treasury secretary following President Donald Trump’s response to a white nationalist protest, Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday he would stay in office and that Trump “in no way, shape or form” equates neo-Nazis with peaceful protesters. Mnuchin, along with other members of the cabinet, stood beside the president at a Tuesday news conference as Trump blamed violence in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend on not just white nationalist rally organizers but also counter-protesters, and said there were “very fine people” among both groups. A letter, dated Aug. 18 and signed by more than 350 members of the Yale class of 1985, argued it was Mnuchin’s “moral obligation to resign” immediately because, it said, Trump had “declared himself a sympathizer with groups whose values are antithetical to those values we consider fundamental to our sacred honor as Americans.” “We know you are better than this, and we are counting on you to do the right thing,” the letter said. Mnuchin issued a statement on Saturday responding to his classmates and what he said were many other comments urging him to “speak out.”  “I strongly condemn the actions of those filled with hate and with the intent to harm others,” he said. “They have no defense from me nor do they have any defense from the president or this administration.” Mnuchin, who is Jewish, added: “While I find it hard to believe I should have to defend myself on this, or the president, I feel compelled to let you know that the president in no way, shape or form, believes that neo-Nazi and other hate groups who endorse violence are equivalent to groups that demonstrate in peaceful and lawful ways.” Ultimately, he said, his classmates should be comforted by his remaining in the administration. “I don’t believe the allegations against the president are accurate, and I believe that having highly talented men and women in our country surrounding the president in his administration should be reassuring to you and all the American people,” he said. In his statement, he also noted the policy priorities he hopes to achieve in office, including tax reform, economic growth, and stopping terrorist financing. politicsNews
mnuchin tells yale classmates trump equate peaceful protesterswashington reuters urged yale university classmates resign treasury secretary following president donald trump response white nationalist protest steven mnuchin said saturday would stay office trump way shape form equates peaceful protesters mnuchin along members cabinet stood beside president tuesday news conference trump blamed violence charlottesville virginia last weekend white nationalist rally organizers also said fine people among groups a letter dated signed members yale class argued mnuchin moral obligation resign immediately said trump declared sympathizers groups whose values antithetical values consider fundamental sacred honor we know better counting right thing letter said mnuchin issued statement saturday responding classmates said many comments urging speak i strongly condemn actions filled hate intent harm others said they defense defense president mnuchin jewish added while i find hard believe i defend president i feel compelled let know president way shape form believes hate groups endorse violence equivalent groups demonstrate peaceful lawful ultimately said classmates comfort remaining administration i believe allegations president accurate i believe highly talented men women country surrounding president administration measuring american people said in statement also noted policy priorities hopes achieve office including tax reform economic growth stopping terrorist financing politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Mnuchin tells Yale classmates: Trump does not equate neo-Nazis with peaceful protestersWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Urged by his Yale University classmates to resign as treasury secretary following President Donald Trump’s response to a white nationalist protest, Steven Mnuchin said on Saturday he would stay in office and that Trump “in no way, shape or form” equates neo-Nazis with peaceful protesters. Mnuchin, along with other members of the cabinet, stood beside the president at a Tuesday news conference as Trump blamed violence in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend on not just white nationalist rally organizers but also counter-protesters, and said there were “very fine people” among both groups. A letter, dated Aug. 18 and signed by more than 350 members of the Yale class of 1985, argued it was Mnuchin’s “moral obligation to resign” immediately because, it said, Trump had “declared himself a sympathizer with groups whose values are antithetical to those values we consider fundamental to our sacred honor as Americans.” “We know you are better than this, and we are counting on you to do the right thing,” the letter said. Mnuchin issued a statement on Saturday responding to his classmates and what he said were many other comments urging him to “speak out.”  “I strongly condemn the actions of those filled with hate and with the intent to harm others,” he said. “They have no defense from me nor do they have any defense from the president or this administration.” Mnuchin, who is Jewish, added: “While I find it hard to believe I should have to defend myself on this, or the president, I feel compelled to let you know that the president in no way, shape or form, believes that neo-Nazi and other hate groups who endorse violence are equivalent to groups that demonstrate in peaceful and lawful ways.” Ultimately, he said, his classmates should be comforted by his remaining in the administration. “I don’t believe the allegations against the president are accurate, and I believe that having highly talented men and women in our country surrounding the president in his administration should be reassuring to you and all the American people,” he said. In his statement, he also noted the policy priorities he hopes to achieve in office, including tax reform, economic growth, and stopping terrorist financing. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: mnuchin tells yale classmates trump equate peaceful protesterswashington reuters urged yale university classmates resign treasury secretary following president donald trump response white nationalist protest steven mnuchin said saturday would stay office trump way shape form equates peaceful protesters mnuchin along members cabinet stood beside president tuesday news conference trump blamed violence charlottesville virginia last weekend white nationalist rally organizers also said fine people among groups a letter dated signed members yale class argued mnuchin moral obligation resign immediately said trump declared sympathizers groups whose values antithetical values consider fundamental sacred honor we know better counting right thing letter said mnuchin issued statement saturday responding classmates said many comments urging speak i strongly condemn actions filled hate intent harm others said they defense defense president mnuchin jewish added while i find hard believe i defend president i feel compelled let know president way shape form believes hate groups endorse violence equivalent groups demonstrate peaceful lawful ultimately said classmates comfort remaining administration i believe allegations president accurate i believe highly talented men women country surrounding president administration measuring american people said in statement also noted policy priorities hopes achieve office including tax reform economic growth stopping terrorist financing politicsnews