White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has since argued there is no link between President Trumps immigration policies and an increase in racially-motivated violence in the U.S. To suggest that theres any correlation I think is a bit absurd, Spicer said at a February 24 press briefing. In front of a joint session of Congress on February 28, Trump also responded to the incident in indirect terms, saying that we are a country that stands united in condemning hate and evil in all its forms. At a vigil held a few days earlier, Kuchibhotlas widow, Sunayana Dumala, demanded more than words. I need an answer from the government, she said. What is it theyre going to do to stop these hate crimes?