‘I Condemn Them’: Trump Tells New York Times He Disavows Alt-Right Conference
During an on-the-record editorial board meeting with the New York Times today — a meeting he canceled at one point — President-elect Donald Trump hit on a number of topics and issues that were tossed at him from reporters.
One of the pressing subjects on the journalists’ minds was how Trump viewed the support he’s received from those in the alt-right. Specifically, they wanted to know how the incoming POTUS felt about the the recent conference alt-right leaders held in Washington over the weekend in which attendees were seen giving Nazi salutes as Richard Spencer exclaimed “Hail Trump!”
When first asked about whether he felt he did anything to “energize” the alt-right, Trump said he didn’t think so:
Trump on alt-right supporters: "It's not a group I want to energize. And if they are energized I want to look into it and find out why."
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
Dean Baquet asks if Trump feels like he did things to energize the alt-right movement. “I don’t think so, Dean,” Trump replies.
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Trump: “I don’t want to energize the group, and I disavow the group.” (1/2)
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Trump: "It’s not a group I want to energize, and if they are energized, I want to look into it and find out why.” (2/2)
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Trump’s chief strategist, Steve Bannon, was then brought up. He was asked about Bannon’s ties to the alt-right and whether or not he was racist:
On Bannon:"If I thought he was a racist or alt-right or any of the things, the terms we could use, I wouldn't even think about hiring him."
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
Trump on Bannon: "I think it's very hard on him. I think he's having a hard time with it. Because it's not him."
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
He also said that Breitbart, which Bannon headed up, was really just a publication:
Trump: "Breitbart is just a publication."
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
After being asked about other topics, the alt-right was brought up again:
Trump gets asked again about the alt-right conference. 'Boy you are really into" this issue, Trump replies. Then disavows again.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
And he was asked if he would condemn them, which he did:
Will the President-elect condemn Richard Spencer’s alt-right gathering? “I condemn them. I disavow, and I condemn,” says Trump.
— Mike Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
That appeared to stop the conversation on the alt-right and support from white supremacists.
[image via screengrab]
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