Many lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, condemned Trump’s sudden return to talking about “both sides” after a counterprotester was killed in Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday. But as Trump spoke, his biggest online fans were, suddenly, hearing more or less exactly what they’d been saying about the Charlottesville violence. And this time, it was coming directly from the president’s mouth.

In a Periscope broadcast shortly after Trump finished speaking, pro-Trump media personality Jack Posobiec said, “The madman himself is back.”

“He has returned, and he is going on offense. Everybody knows it,” Posobiec said. “Take a bow, President Trump.” He then asked Trump to have the Department of Justice officially declare antifa — short for “anti-fascists” — a “domestic terrorist organization.”

Although Trump didn’t use the term “antifa” — he said “alt-left” — many interpreted his remarks to be addressing that group, which regularly confronts demonstrators at right-wing and white nationalist events.

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