During the first presidential debate on September 29, 2020, Trump was asked by moderate Christopher Wallace to unequivocally denounce white supremacist groups. Instead of doing so, he told once such group – the Proud Boys – to “stand back and stand by.”
WALLACE: You have repeatedly criticized the vice president for not specifically calling out antifa and other left-wing extremist groups. But are you willing, tonight, to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities as we saw in Kenosha and as we’ve seen in Portland? Are you prepared to specifically do that?
TRUMP: Sure, I’m prepared to do that. But I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing. If you look, I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace.
WALLACE: Then do it, sir.
BIDEN: Do it. Say it.
TRUMP: You want to call them? What do you want to call them? Give me a name, give me a name, go ahead — who would you like me to condemn?
WALLACE: White supremacists, white supremacists and right-wing militia.
TRUMP: Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what: Somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left. Because this is not a right-wing problem — this is a left-wing problem.
The Proud Boys, which is designated as a far-right hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, called the president’s comment a tacit endorsement.
The following January, the leader of the Proud Boys was banned by a judge from Washington DC for weapons and vandalism charges.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump failed to disavow former KKK Grandwizard David Duke’s endorsement.
NPR – From Debate Stage, Trump Declines To Denounce White Supremacy
BBC News – Trump now tells far right to ‘stand down’ amid white supremacy row
Southern Poverty Law Center – Proud Boys
USA Today – Who are the Proud Boys? Far-right group has concerned experts for years
The New York Times – Proud Boys celebrate Trump’s ‘stand by’ remark about them at the debate.
Associated Press – Judge bans Proud Boys leader from nation’s capital after arrest on vandalism, weapons charges
Wikipedia – Proud Boys
