President Trump said he did not think that white nationalism was recovering after the New Zealand massacre, in which the shooter identified with ideology and hated immigrants.
"I do not really know. I think it's a small group of people who have very, very serious problems. "
The president said he had not read the murderer's manifesto.
In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters that Trump had called her directly on Friday morning.
"My message was sympathy and love for all Muslim communities. He recognized it and accepted.
Before Trump's Oval comments, President Kellyanne Conway's advisor said the political convictions of the murderer were ubiquitous.
