House Speaker Paul Ryan, Republican-Wisconsin, has said he was disappointed with President Donald Trump's failure to denounce white supremacists in the wake of violence at a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, but Ryan said he would not endorse an effort to formally censure Trump for his response.

“I do believe he messed up in his comments on Tuesday,” Ryan said during a town hall on CNN. “I do think he could have done better.”

Ryan said he found Trump's comments “not only morally ambiguous but it was equivocating” and criticised the President for comparing the white supremacists and neo-Nazis who organised the “Unite the Right” rally with the counter-protesters who rallied to oppose them. Ryan said he did not support Trump's comment that “very fine people” were among those who participated in the rally but he said it would be a mistake to reduce the discussion over white supremacy to a partisan attack on Trump.

Rabbi Dena Feingold, the sister of former Senator Russ Feingold, Democrat-Wisconsin, asked Ryan if he would support Democrats in their calls for a vote to formally censure Trump over the comments.

“I will not support that, I think that will be so counterproductive,” Ryan said at the event in his home state of Wisconsin. “It is very, very important that we don't make this a partisan food fight.”

Feingold said her congregation is fearful in the wake of the violence and asked Ryan how he would hold Trump accountable. Ryan dismissed the idea of censure, saying Trump had taken steps to clarify his position. Ryan said a vote to condemn Trump would only further divide the country and turn the conversation into a partisan fight.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

“I'm pleased with the things he said tonight to add clarity to the confusion I think he gave us on Tuesday night,” Ryan said. “It should not be about the President. This isn't about Republicans or Democrats. This shouldn't be about some vote in Congress or some partisan issue.”