WASHINGTON (Reuters) - US President Donald Trump defended Fox News on Friday with anti-Muslim rhetoric, while the White House rejected any attempt to link the president to the New Zealand mosque attack that killed 50 people.

Violence against Muslims in New Zealand on Friday highlighted Trump's speech on Islam and revived criticism of his handling of violence committed by adherents of the idea of ​​white supremacy.

In a tweet on Twitter, Trump called for the reinstatement of Genin Pero, and accused Democrats of trying to "silence a majority in our country."

Meanwhile, White House chief of staff Mick Mulvani sought more than one news station on Sunday to curb criticism that Trump had not sufficiently condemned the hate speech and fueled anti-Muslim sentiments.

I do not know how many times we need to say that, "Mulvani told Fox News.

On Friday, Trump condemned the attack, which he described as a "horrific massacre" while the White House called it "a brutal act of hate."

Asked if he thought white nationalism was a growing threat worldwide, Trump said: "I do not really think so, I think a small group of people are having very serious problems." The accused was praised in his statement on the Internet as "a symbol of the revival of the white identity."

Moulvani said that the massacre was the result of the behavior of a person who is dishonest and unfair to associate this person with Trump or any other politician.

"I do not see a link between Donald Trump as president and what happened in New Zealand," he told CBS.

Trump was strongly criticized in the days after a rally of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017 when he equated them with protesters of their opponents and said both sides deserved to be blamed.

Peru, a Trump supporter, was reprimanded by Fox News last Sunday over its comments on whether Muslim Congressman Elhan Omar was more loyal to Islamic law than her loyalty to the US Constitution.

Speaking to the public, Peru asked in an angry tone about America's long-standing loyalty to the United States, criticizing its veil, calling it "against the US Constitution."

The station suspended its "Justice with Judge Jinin" program, which was broadcast on Sunday night. Fox News did not confirm whether it had decided to stop working, and declined to make further comments.

"A beautiful message sent by the president three days after the terrorist attack on Muslims should support media that have stopped working for their intolerance against Muslims," ​​said Matthew Miller, a Justice Department spokesman in the administration of former President Barack Obama.

Democratic deputies called on Trump on Sunday to defend Muslims publicly after the carnage, and recognize the danger posed by supporters of white supremacy.

"His speech (Trump) does not help, at least it makes the people laugh, they are using it as a pretext," Sen. Amy Kloboshar, a Democratic presidential candidate, told CNN.

In 2016, Trump said during his election campaign, "I think Islam hates us," and then followed the procedure one week after taking office, such as banning the entry of citizens of Muslim countries to the United States.

After appeals before the courts, the US administration amended that policy. US Rep. Rachida Tlaib said government data showed an increase in hate crimes over the past 10 years, citing random shootings at a Jewish synagogue and black church.

"We can not say it's a small group of people," Rachida told CNN, "We need to speak out against it and start talking."

Trump "needs to do something better," Trump said. "He should speak out and condemn this loudly and clearly."

US hate crimes jumped 17 percent in 2017, according to data from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).