Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton calls on Trump to postpone next week's Arizona rally

Aug 16 (Reuters) - The mayor of Phoenix on Wednesday called on President Donald Trump to postpone a rally he was scheduled to hold on Tuesday in the city, saying it was too soon after a violent white supremacist rally in Virginia.

"I am disappointed that President Trump has chosen to hold a campaign rally as our nation is still healing from the tragic events in Charlottesville," Mayor Greg Stanton said in a statement posted on Twitter.

"It is my hope that more sound judgment prevails and that he delays his visit," Stanton said. (Reporting by Eric Beech in Washington; Editing by Eric Walsh)

RELATED: A look back at the violent Charlottesville protests

The scheduled "Make America Great Again" rally comes after Trump left himself open to praise from "alt-right" activists and criticism from lawmakers, business leaders and political pundits alike on Tuesday afternoon when he said there were "two sides" to the deadly Charlottesville protests last Saturday. His comments have prompted a wave of backlash from activists, media pundits and lawmakers alike on a local and national scale.

After criticizing Sen. Jeff Flake from Arizona via Twitter on Thursday morning, Trump is expected endorse a primary opponent running opposite the U.S. senator in a primary election.

Christina Gregg contributed to this report