Two former US presidents have issued a strong statement condemning the white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia – one day after President Donald Trump failed to do so.

Former President George HW Bush and his son, former President George W Bush, issued a joint statement calling on Americans to “reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism, and hatred in all forms”.

“As we pray for Charlottesville, we are reminded of the fundamental truths recorded by that city’s most prominent citizen in the Declaration of Independence: we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with unalienable rights,” the prominent Republicans wrote.

The statement comes on the heels of the largest white nationalist gathering in the US in decades. This weekend, neo-Nazis, KKK members, “alt-right” activists and others descended on Charlottesville to protest the removal of a Confederate statue. The marchers clashed with counter-protesters throughout the weekend, leaving dozens of people injured and one dead.

Mr Trump vacillated on the issue, initially blaming the casualties on “violence on both sides". Later, under intense pressure, he condemned the white nationalists groups by name.

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.

One day later however, in a free-wheeling press conference at Trump Tower, the President returned to his condemnation of the “very, very violent” counter-protesters.

“What about the alt-left that came charging at the, as you say, the alt-right? Do they have any semblance of guilt?“ he asked on Tuesday, adding: “You had a group on one side that was bad, and you had a group on the other side that was also very violent.”

The comments drove politicians on either side of the aisle to speak out against white supremacy. House Speaker Paul Ryan declared that there can be “no moral ambiguity” when it comes to the “repulsive” ideology, while Republican Senator Marco Rubio warned against “allow[ing] this old evil to be resurrected”.

The Bushes – the only other Republican presidents alive today – weighed in on Wednesday.

Two other former presidents had already offered their comments over the weekend. Bill Clinton tweeted on Saturday that the US “must condemn hatred, violence and white supremacy".

Mr Trump’s predecessor, Barack Obama, expressed his thoughts via a quote from Nelson Mandela, in what quickly became the most-liked tweet of all time.