Frida Ghitis, a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist. She is a frequent opinion contributor to CNN and The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author; view more opinion articles on CNN.

(CNN) Facing a country raw with pain and seething with anger after two more massacres that left dozens dead, President Donald Trump stood in front of a teleprompter and gave a fairly good speech Monday. It was commendable that the President unequivocally declared, "In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy."

Frida Ghitis

On the surface it was a call for national unity against bigotry. But the implicit — perhaps more important message — was that he, too, condemns it.

Amid a groundswell of accusations that Trump's own rhetoric helped fuel the El Paso massacre, the President was telling Americans that he is not a racist, a bigot, a white supremacist.

It is remarkable that we have to feel relief when the President disavows racism. It is astonishing that his disavowal is so hard to believe.

We have heard Trump read the right words from a teleprompter before, only to watch him turn around and retract them shortly thereafter. We will not know if anything has really changed until we hear what he declares to supporters in a rally, or when he speaks extemporaneously.

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