Barack Obama: “We may be able to deescalate over the next several days and weeks, but it's a serious situation.”

It is a basic principle of American democracy that the government can’t selectively target individuals simply because of their political beliefs or what they say.

People need to “rediscover what’s the story we tell about how we’re going to live together, and see each other, and recognise each other, and disagree, and yet, still care for each other”.

I think when we act on that basis, it doesn't always work out, but over time things do get better.

And I will fight for that, even if I don’t always think it’s going to win.