National security adviser H.R. McMaster on Sunday defended President Trump's statement a day earlier on the violent clashes at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va.

"The president has been very clear," McMaster said on ABC's "This Week."

"We cannot tolerate this kind of bigotry, this kind of hatred. And what he did is he called on all Americans to take a firm stand against it."

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McMaster said this is a great opportunity to ask ourselves: "What are we teaching our children?"

"Tolerance has to overcome this kind of hatred, this kind of hatred that is grounded really in ignorance, ignorance of our values and what makes us unique as Americans," he said.

"Our commitment to each other, our commitment to freedom, liberty, tolerance and rights for all of us."

Trump on Saturday came under criticism for not condemning the far-right white nationalist groups marching in Virginia, and instead criticizing violence by "many sides."

"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides," Trump said at a press conference.

In a tweet Saturday, Trump said we all need to "be united & condemn all that hate stands for."