Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump publicly failed to denounce white supremacy at the first presidential debate, he’s already reneged on his statements.
Last night (Sept. 29), when asked if he was ready to condemn white supremacists and militia groups, he told moderator Chris Wallace that he “was willing to do that.” “But, I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing. Not from the right wing… I’m willing to do anything — I want to see peace.”
Wallace tried to get Trump to make a definite statement regarding his stance on white supremacy and was asked by the president for the name of a certain group he could address. Biden chimed in and suggested the Proud Boys.
“Proud Boys: stand back and stand by,” Trump responded. “But, I’ll tell you what, somebody’s gotta do something about Antifa and the left because this is not a right wing problem. This is a left wing problem.”
Black people including celebrities Cardi B, Chance the Rapper and Frank Ocean noted Trump’s inbility to condemn white supremacy and expressed their rage on social media, encouraging their fans to cast their ballots on Election Day.
Now, Trump is already singing a different tune.
The president was asked questions about his “stand back and stand by” remarks at the debate, but he said he has no knowledge of the Proud Boys.
”I don’t know who the Proud Boys are,” he told reporters on the South Lawn before asking them to provide a definition of the group. “Whoever they are, they have to stand down — let law enforcement do their work,” he continued.
Trump was asked again whether he’s willing to condemn white supremacy. This time, without saying the actual term, he responded, “I’ve always denounced any form, any form, any form of any of that, you have to denounce.”
Look below for Trump’s thoughts on the first presidential debate.