More lies and obfuscations to try and shield the public Trump from his obvious racism and bigotry. Trump doesn't want to lose his white supremacist/neo nazi/KKK base. He acted the same way when it came to denouncing David Duke and Spencer pre-election. Trump's dad was a klan member and Roy Cohn, who was his dad's attorney, then Trump's mentor and attorney, was of the same ilk. Cohn was instrumental in promoting McCarthyism and all that implies. 

 When people voted for Trump they voted for a McCarthyistic view of the world and a man who blatently empliys the tactics Roy Cohn used during the McCarthy era.  All  while blatently displaying his racism, bigotry, misogyny, sexism, and a whole host of despicable human traits, then lying about it. 

White Supremacists and their brethren view themselves as carrying out Trump's agenda; that Trump supports them. They're right: He does support them.  The less Trump says about an accusation and/or issue initially, the more complicit he is.