Trump Disavows White Supremacists and White Nationalists but Defends Their Man in His Administration
‘I Disavow and Condemn Them’
President-elect Donald Trump, asked Tuesday afternoon by reporters at The New York Times, disavowed white supremacists and white nationalists who are trying to rebrand themselves as the “alt-right” movement, yet defended his senior advisor, Steve Bannon,.
Several reporters from the Times live-tweeted details of the Q&A session,
Trump: “I don’t want to energize the group, and I disavow the group.†(1/2)
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Trump: “It’s not a group I want to energize, and if they are energized, I want to look into it and find out why.†(2/2)
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Trump did not bring up the issue, and later seemed surprised that it was such a hot topic, apparently choosing to appear to not understand that his appointment of Steve Bannon, the former head of Breitbart, has advocated for and even bragged about publishing a website that is “home” to the “alt-right.”
Trump gets asked again about the alt-right conference. ‘Boy you are really into” this issue, Trump replies. Then disavows again.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
The Times‘ executive editor pressed the subject:
Dean Baquet asks if Trump feels like he did things to energize the alt-right movement. “I don’t think so, Dean,†Trump replies.
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Some have called Bannon a white nationalist, a charge he denies. Breitbart has a section called “Black Crime,” and has pushed bigoted, anti-Semitic, misogynistic, himophobic, and racist viewpoints. Trump says Bannon is not a racist.
On Bannon:”If I thought he was a racist or alt-right or any of the things, the terms we could use, I wouldn’t even think about hiring him.”
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
Trump on Bannon: “I think it’s very hard on him. I think he’s having a hard time with it. Because it’s not him.”
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
But this is how Trump describes Breitbart, the publication Bannon said he made into a home for the “alt-right”:
Trump is asked about concerns from minority groups about Breitbart News’s coverage under Steve Bannon. His reply: pic.twitter.com/FBqCGwQpBr
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Trump claims Bannon is getting a lot of support, doesn’t say from who:
“A lot of people are coming to his defense right now,” Trump says of Bannon. Reince voices support too at conference table.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
The president-elect again said he disavows the white nationalists and supremacists, but declined to explain why or go into much detail:
Asked point-blank about Nazi conference in DC over wknd: @realDonaldTrump tells @nytimes “of course” “I disavow and condemn them”
— Julie Davis (@juliehdavis) November 22, 2016
Trump refuses to accept that his platforms, comments, and actions throughout the campaign, before the campaign, and even since being elected have energized the white nationalists and white supremacists.
ThinkProgress’ editor Judd Legum made a point of calling out Trump’s disavowal:
2. He never gives any specifics or explanation. He did the same thing with David Duke. Just, “I disavow.”
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) November 22, 2016
3. It is perfunctory and is taken that way by white nationalists. That’s why they all still support him.
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) November 22, 2016
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