The Charlottesville story and Trump's response had a significant impact on the nation. His 'both sides' comment sent a message that white supremacist groups might have some sort of equal footing with those opposing them. This led to increased tensions across the country. People were outraged that the President didn't take a clear stand against hate groups. It also emboldened some white supremacist elements, who may have felt that they had some level of support from the highest office in the land. Moreover, it damaged the international image of the US as a country that stands against racism and bigotry.
Trump's actions in the Charlottesville story really shook the nation. His failure to clearly condemn the white supremacist groups created a sense of unease and fear among many Americans. It made the divide between different political ideologies and racial groups wider. Minority groups felt betrayed as they expected a strong condemnation of the hate - filled ideology of white supremacy from the President. The incident also led to a lot of protests and discussions about race relations in the US. It highlighted the fact that the issue of white supremacy was still very much alive and that the leadership's stance on it was crucial for the nation's social fabric.