President Trump has shown a consistent tendency to avoid specifically calling out white supremacists in America. During the recent debate with former Vice President Joe Biden, President Trump refused to condemn white supremacist groups and gave what appeared to be a call-to-action when he suggested that he may need some of these groups on and after Election Day.
Trump asked the groups to “Stand back and stand by.” Whether intended or not, that sent a message to violent right-wing groups across America that the President may need their assistance in the election and further need their help should he lose the election.
Yesterday, I was challenged on my talk show after I said that President Trump has not categorically denounced white supremacist groups. A few emails to Scoot@WWL.com insisted that Trump has, indeed, denounced white supremacist groups. After the show, I questioned my recollection.
Appearing on Sean Hannity’s show on Fox News, President Trump said, “Let me be clear again: I condemn the KKK. I condemn all white supremacists. I condemn the Proud Boys. I don’t know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn that.” I had surgery the day the President appeared on Hannity and I did not see anything about that afterwards. If I had, I would have addressed the truth.
My research led to a statement from August 14, 2017. Shortly after the statement the President made about “good people on both sides” of the clash during the rally in Charlottesville, VA, President Trump issued the following statement:
“As I said on Saturday, we condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence. It has no place in America. And as I have said many times before: No matter the color of our skin, we all live under the same lawas, we all salute the same great flag, and we are all made by the same almighty God. We must love each other, show affection for each other, and unite together in condemnation of hatred, bigotry, and violence. We must rediscover the bonds of love and loyalty that bring us together as Americans.
Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans.
We are a nation founded on the truth that all of us are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our Creator. We are equal under the law.
And we are equal under our Constitution. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.”
President Trump deserves credit for denouncing white supremacists, but the few times he has clearly denounced white supremacists have come after he initially failed to denounce the hate groups.
I have never said President Trump is a racist. I have said that his words and actions are the words and actions of racists. There is no question that the President senses a bond with the small, but noisy, voting block of white supremacits.
Whether it comes from his heart or comes from his political survival instinct, it is obvious that President Trump has been pressured into denouncing white supremacy in America.
And regardless of what motivates that in the President - the impression is that he is reluctant to condemn white hate groups and that has an impact on this country.
