After refusing to do so at the first Presidential Debate, President Donald Trump has openly condemned white supremacist groups. Trump made the declaration during an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity.
"I condemn the KKK, I condemn all White supremacists, I condemn the Proud Boys. I don't know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn that," he said.
His comments on Thursday are a stark contrast from those he made during the first Presidential Debate on Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio. During the event, Fox News' Chris Wallace asked the President to condemn white supremacist organizations.
"Who would you like me to condemn?" Trump asked Wallace.
"Proud Boys," former Vice President Joe Biden interjected.
"Proud Boys -- stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what. I'll tell you what. Somebody's got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem," Trump continued.
Initially, representatives from the White House refused to correct his statements. Instead, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany pointed to comments the President has made in the past.
"The President, specifically, verbatim, was asked (Wednesday): 'White supremacy -- do you denounce them?' To which he responded, 'I have always denounced any form of that,' " she said.
"Those are the facts."
The topic of white supremacy will more than likely be a hot topic at the next Presidential Debate. However, it is unclear when the next verbal sparring session will take place. The second debate was scheduled for October 15 in Miami. The President's positive COVID-19 test has now put the event in question. If he is unable to take part in the second debate, the third debate will take place the following week in Nashville. For the time being, he is being quarantined in the White House with his wife, who also tested positive.
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