“Somebody’s got to do something about Antifa and the left”
Donald Trump passed up on the opportunity to condemn white supremacists and militia groups during the first US presidential debate on Tuesday night, instead urging a well-known far right organisation “to stand back and stand by” and saying “somebody’s got to do something about ANTIFA and the left”.
In a debate that frequently turned ugly and in which Trump was accused of “an avalanche of lying” in a CNN fact check of events, one of the most notable moments was when the role of white supremacist and militia groups in violence seen in cities across the United States was raised with the current president.
Asked by moderator Chris Wallace if he was willing to condemn these groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence, Trump said “sure, I’m willing to do that”.
He then directly addressed the far-right Proud Boys organisation and turned his attention to the role of left-wing groups in civil unrest in the US.
“I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing” Trump said.
“I’m willing to do anything… I want to see peace.”
Challenged by Wallace and Joe Biden to condemn right-wing extremist groups. Trump said: “Give me a name, who would you like me to condemn?”
Donald Trump asked if he is 'willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down'
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"pic.twitter.com/QRXLlR60m2
— JOE.ie (@JOEdotie) September 30, 2020
When Biden replied “Proud Boys”, Trump responded: “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…”
Biden then intervened to clarify that Antifa is an ideology, not an organisation, something pointed out by FBI director Christopher Wray before a Homeland Security Committee earlier this month.
In response to Trump’s reference to Proud Boys, Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), tweeted that the president “owes America an apology or an explanation. Now.”
It's astonishing that, when asked a simple question, will you condemn white supremacists, @POTUS responded – "The Proud Boys should stand back and stand by." Trying to determine if this was an answer or an admission. @POTUS owes America an apology or an explanation. Now. https://t.co/9tgufXom9K
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) September 30, 2020
The Anti-Defamation League classifies Proud Boys as an extremist group with a misogynistic, Islamophobic, transphobic and anti-immigrant ideology.
