Donald Trump had himself a racially charged weekend. Trump has drawn lots of support from white supremacist groups, and on Sunday, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked him about KKK leader David Duke’s strong endorsement. Trump is now blaming a “lousy earpiece” for the three times he refused to tell Tapper he doesn’t welcome white supremacist endorsements, saying at the time:
Just so you understand. I don't know anything about David Duke, OK? I don't know anything about what you're even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So I don't know. I mean, I don't know -- did he endorse me or what's going on? Because I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists. And so you're asking me a question that I'm supposed to be talking about people that I know nothing about.
And “Honestly, I don’t know David Duke. I don’t believe I’ve ever met him. I’m pretty sure I didn’t meet him. And I just don’t know anything about him.” That’s interesting, because Trump had known who David Duke was back in 2000, and had in fact said in a press conference on Friday that “I disavow” the recent endorsement.
But somehow on CNN Sunday, that “very bad earpiece” prevented Trump from saying those simple words. Three times it prevented him.
In addition to the earpiece, Trump is blaming Tapper for asking a question that didn’t just mention Duke but “also talked about groups. And I have no problem with disavowing groups, but I'd at least like to know who they are.” Tapper’s question: “Will you unequivocally condemn David Duke and say that you don't want his vote or that of other white supremacists in this election?” So, Donald, if you’d “at least like to know who they are,” there’s your answer: white supremacists. There’s really only one right answer to “will you condemn white supremacists?” and you didn’t give it.
Although all the establishment Republican outrage over this rings a little hollow given that House Majority Whip Steve Scalise spoke to a David Duke-founded white supremacist group in 2002 and is still a member of House Republican leadership in good standing.
The Republican Party that welcomes Steve Scalise as a leader and has Donald Trump as a presidential front-runner is the same one vowing to block any Supreme Court nomination President Obama makes. Please donate $3 today to help turn the Senate blue. The future of the Supreme Court depends on it.