"Any time that you commit an attack against people to incite fear, it is terrorism," McMaster said in an interview with ABC.
According to him, the violence in Charlottesville is a "criminal act against fellow Americans."
He added that the car ramming attack during the protest may be "motivated by hatred and bigotry."
"… What are we teaching our children around the dinner table, what are we teaching our children in school, we ought to be teaching what makes America exceptional; and that's our commitment to the rights of every individual, liberty, freedom, respect for each other regardless of race, religion."
On August 12, the city of Charlottesville in the US state of Virginia saw a major rally of far-right nationalists protesting the removal of a monument dedicated to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The rally, dubbed Unite the Right, which subsequently led to violent clashes between the demonstrators and counter-protesters and culminated in the car ramming attack, resulting in several deaths and many injuries. Moreover, a police helicopter fell in the area, while monitoring the protests.
The FBI investigation into the car attack is underway.
