avoided denouncing white supremacist groups during a presidential debate?

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

announced a “patriotic education” commission?

On September 17, 2020, Trump decried efforts to educate American children about the nation’s history with native and African peoples. After alleged an ongoing Marxist effort to indoctrinate children against America, he announced a commission to investigate shifting to a more “patriotic education” in schools.

Critical race theory, the 1619 Project, and the crusade against American history is toxic propaganda, ideological poison that, if not removed, will dissolve the civic bonds that tie us together. It will destroy our country.

The 1619 Project, named for year of enslaved Africans’ first arrival in North America, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning project by the New York Times. It aims to “reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of [the United States’] national narrative.”

The Washington Post – Trump alleges ‘left-wing indoctrination’ in schools, says he will create national commission to push more ‘pro-American’ history
NPR – Trump Announces ‘Patriotic Education’ Commission, A Largely Political Move
Wikipedia – The 1619 Project

boasted about genes and invoked “racehorse theory”?

Throughout his life, and into his presidency, Trump voiced his belief that genes allowed for inherent superiority of some over others. He has invoked “racehorse theory” in relation to these beliefs, referencing the selective breeding of horses.

He reiterated these beliefs at a Minnesota rally on September 18, 2020:

This state was pioneered by men and women who braved the wilderness and the winters to build a better life for themselves and for their families. They were tough, and they were strong. You have good genes, you know that, right? You have good genes. A lot of it’s about the genes isn’t it, don’t you believe? The racehorse theory you think was so different? You have good genes in Minnesota.

The application of “racehorse theory” to people is known as eugenics, which has been the motivation behind a wide swath of crimes against humanity, from forced sterilizations to genocide.

While Trump frequently claimed that his genes were largely responsible for his skills and success, over $400 million was inherited by Trump using various tax evasion schemes, and one of his former professors referred to him as “the dumbest goddamn student I ever had.”

Time – Donald Trump Loves to Talk About His ‘Good Genes’
Business Insider – Trump told a crowd of nearly all white supporters that they have ‘good genes’
The Daily Beast – Trump Rambles About ‘Good Genes’ and ‘Racehorse Theory’ at Minnesota Campaign Rally

allegedly said “only blacks could live this way” about Chicago?

Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney and fixer, alleged that Trump made a variety of racist remarks. While driving through a struggling Chicago neighborhood, Trump commented that “only the blacks could live this way.” Trump went on to say that they wouldn’t vote for him to be President because of their stupidity.

Cohen faced criminal charges for campaign finance violations regarding his assistance in the Stormy Daniel scandal. He also named Trump as a co-conspirator.

Associated Press – The Latest: Cohen says Trump disparaged black people
Chicago Tribune – To back his claim that Trump is racist, Michael Cohen recounts a story from Chicago
The Independent – Trump said ‘only blacks could live this way’ about Chicago and hates Obama because he’s Black, Michael Cohen claims

propagated a birther conspiracy about Kamala Harris?

Days after Kamala Harris was selected to be Joe Biden’s running mate, Trump repeated and amplified false claims about her eligibility to be Vice President at an August 13, 2020 press conference. A new birther conspiracy theory alleged that because Harris’ parents were not both naturalized citizens, she herself would not have been “a citizen at birth.”

Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California, and is a natural born citizen. Still, Trump, his staff, and his campaign manager have avoided directly acknowledging Harris’ eligibility to run for the office.

Trump was also famously a proponent of the Obama birther conspiracy, wherein he claimed that Obama was Kenyan-born, and so not eligible to be President.

NPR – Trump’s Racist ‘Birther’ Attacks On Harris Are A Return To Familiar Territory
The Daily Beast – Trump Promises to ‘Take a Look’ at Bogus Kamala Harris Birther Claim

declined to offer praise for the late civil rights figure and US Representative John Lewis?

When asked how he viewed US Representative for Georgia and civil rights figure John Lewis’ legacy after his death, Trump remarked:

He didn’t come to my inauguration; he didn’t come to my State of the Union speeches—and that’s okay, that’s his right. Again, nobody has done more for Black Americans than I have.

John Lewis, a major figure in the US Civil Rights Movement, was among the main organizers of the March on Washington in which Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Lewis died on July 17, 2020 of pancreatic cancer.

John Lewis (left) and Martin Luther King Jr. (right) march from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi. (Harry Benson / Contour / Getty)

In the same interview with Axios, Trump again dismissed ongoing concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic and record deaths in the United States.

Forbes – Trump Snubs Civil Rights Leader John Lewis: ‘I Don’t Know’ How History Will Remember Him
Business Insider – Trump refuses to acknowledge John Lewis’ achievements and claims he’s done ‘more for Black Americans’
NPR – Trump Criticizes Late Rep. John Lewis For Not Attending Inauguration
The Atlantic – How Martin Luther King Jr. Recruited John Lewis
Wikipedia – John Lewis

retweeted a video that showcased someone yelling “white power?”

On June 28, 2020, Trump retweeted a video of protests and counter-protests in The Villages, a Florida retirement community. Within 10 seconds of the two minute video, a man is shown yelling “white power.”

Along with the video, Trump added,

Thank you to the great people of The Villages. The Radical Left Do Nothing Democrats will Fall in the Fall. Corrupt Joe is shot. See you soon!!!

Trump’s retweet was deleted later that same day.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere said Trump hadn’t heard the remarks:

President Trump is a big fan of The Villages. He did not hear the one statement made on the video. What he did see was tremendous enthusiasm from his many supporters.

AP News – Trump tweets video with ‘white power’ chant, then deletes it
NPR – Trump Retweets Video Of Apparent Supporter Saying ‘White Power’
BBC News – Trump retweets video of supporter shouting ‘white power’
USA Today – ‘Indefensible’: Trump slammed for sharing video where supporter yells ‘white power’ at protesters

said of Abraham Lincoln “he did good, although it’s always questionable, you know, the end result”?

In a Fox News interview with Harris Faulkner, Trump repeated past claims that he had done more for the black community than any other President. In doing so, he made a comment about “the end result.”

TRUMP: I think I’ve done more for the black community than any other President. And let’s take a pass on Abraham Lincoln because he did good, although it’s always questionable, you know, the end result-

FAULKNER: Well we are free, Mr. President so I think he did pretty well. [laughter]

TRUMP: But we are free. You understand what I mean.

It was unclear what Trump was referring to.

Trump previously claimed that he could be more Presidential than Lincoln “with the big hat,” who he described as someone who “did the thing.”

Business Insider – Trump says Abraham Lincoln ‘did good’ for the Black community but that ‘the end result’ is ‘questionable’
CNBC – Trump suggests Lincoln’s legacy is ‘questionable,’ brags about his own work for Black Americans
Forbes – Trump Claims He’s Done More For Blacks Than Any President Besides Lincoln

invoked George Floyd’s name over jobs numbers?

In a June 2020 press conference, Trump boasted about better than expected job figures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. During the speech, he invoked George Floyd, who was killed at the hands of police.

We all saw what happened last week. We can’t let that happen. Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying, “This is a great thing that’s happening for our country.” This is a great day for him. It’s a great day for everybody. This is a great day for everybody. This is a great, great day in terms of equality. It’s really what our Constitution requires and it’s what our country is all about.

PBS White House Correspondent Yamiche Alcindor inquired about the jobs numbers, noting that minority unemployment rates had still increased, to which Trump replied, “you’re really something.”

CNBC – Trump caps chaotic week with a victory lap over better-than-expected jobs report
Business Insider – Trump suggests George Floyd is ‘looking down’ from heaven and appreciating the ‘great day in terms of equality’ after an unexpectedly strong jobs report was announced

said of protests, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts”?

Amid mass protests the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police, Trump threatened to deploy the the military to combat “thugs” and remarked, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

The tweet was flagged by Twitter as violating its rules about glorifying violence.

Additionally, the phrase was coined by a notoriously racist Miami police chief in 1967, who also told the press “we don’t mind being accused of police brutality.” Trump’s handling of protests were denounced by former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

CBS News – “When the looting starts, the shooting starts”: Trump tweet flagged by Twitter for “glorifying violence”
Business Insider – Trump claims his ‘when the looting starts, the shooting starts’ remarks weren’t a call to violence but instead a ‘fact’
Wikipedia – When the looting starts, the shooting starts

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