Barack Obama: “William Nettles' legal career has been distinguished and impressive.”

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’m going to insist that we can do better than we’re doing right now.

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