Trump Denounces White Supremacy, But Not QAnon

Topline

President Donald Trump repeatedly said he denounced white supremacy Thursday during an NBC town hall, after criticism that he had not clearly done so in the past, while saying he knows “nothing” about the QAnon conspiracy theory except that they are “very much against pedophilia,” revealing at least partial knowledge of the right-wing conspiracy.

Key Facts

Key Background

Trump came under fire in the first presidential debate for telling the right-wing Proud Boys group, which is often tied to white supremacy, to “stand down and stand by,” which many viewed as missing an opportunity to denounce white supremacy. On QAnon, Trump has repeatedly refused opportunities to denounce the movement, even as numerous other Republicans have publicly denounced QAnon.

Tangent

Trump participated in a town hall at the same time as Democratic candidate Joe Biden on ABC. NBC’s decision to hold the town hall received plenty of blowback, even among prominent former employees, who felt holding the town hall at the same time as Biden’s, which was already scheduled, was not in the public interest.

Further Reading

‘Stand Back And Stand By’: Trump Doesn’t Condemn White Supremacists, But Gives Shoutout To Right-Wing Proud Boys (Forbes)

Here Are The Republicans Who Have Denounced QAnon (Forbes)