Trump blasts Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam for flip-flopping on racist photo, refusing to resign originally appeared on abcnews.go.com

Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam defiantly refused to resign Saturday and denied that he was in the racist yearbook photo that led to widespread calls for him to step down immediately.

The photo, revealed on Friday, shows two men, one in a full Ku Klux Klan robe and hood and another in blackface, on Northam's medical school yearbook page from 1984. Northam graduated from Eastern Virginia Medical School.

(MORE: Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam facing calls for resignation after participating in racist 1984 yearbook photo')

"Yesterday I took responsibility for content that appeared on my page that was clearly racist and offensive. I will not excuse the content of the photo. It was offensive, racist and despicable. I was seeing it for the first time. I was unaware of what was on my page. I was appalled that they appeared on my page," Northam said at a lengthy press conference at Virginia's Executive Mansion.

"I believe now I am not either of the people in that photo. It is disgusting, offensive, racist," Northam said.

PHOTO: This image shows Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's page in his 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook. The page shows a picture of a person in blackface and another wearing a Ku Klux Klan hood next to different pictures of the governor. (Eastern Virginia Medical School via AP) More

The explanation did not stop the growing tide of politicians from calling on him to resign.

President Donald Trump took multiple shots at the Democrat on Saturday night, tweeting, "Democrat Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia just stated, 'I believe that I am not either of the people in that photo.' This was 24 hours after apologizing for appearing in the picture and after making the most horrible statement on 'super' late term abortion. Unforgivable."

Democrat Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia just stated, “I believe that I am not either of the people in that photo.” This was 24 hours after apologizing for appearing in the picture and after making the most horrible statement on “super” late term abortion. Unforgivable! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2019

The comment on late-term abortions was a reference to the controversy that surrounded Northam, prior to the yearbook photo emerging, about allowing the controversial practice in his state.

The president also managed to slam Ed Gillespie, whom Northam beat in last November's election, though. Trump endorsed Gillespie multiple times in the lead up to the election, but criticized his opposition research Saturday night.

Ed Gillespie, who ran for Governor of the Great State of Virginia against Ralph Northam, must now be thinking Malpractice and Dereliction of Duty with regard to his Opposition Research Staff. If they find that terrible picture before the election, he wins by 20 points! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2019

As recently as Friday night, Northam admitted that he was in the photo and apologized for it. But on Saturday, he reversed his earlier statement and said he was not in the photo. He said that he never bought the yearbook and had never seen the page before the news broke on Friday.

"I am deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now," Northam said in a statement Friday night. "This behavior is not in keeping with who I am today and the values I have fought for throughout my career in the military, in medicine and in public service. But I want to be clear, I understand how this decision shakes Virginians’ faith in that commitment."

(MORE: Florida Secretary of State Michael Ertel resigns after blackface images emerge)

He did not specify on Friday whether he was the person photographed in the KKK robe or the one in blackface.

But with his wife, Pam, at his side, he acknowledged that the sudden about-face may strain his credibility.

"I recognize that this will be difficult for others to believe," Northam said. "I conceded that based on the evidence presented to me at the time. In the hours after I reflected with my family and my classmates."

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