Trump was given a softball question at the debate, and he answered it just like I would have expected him to. He not only refused to condemn white supremacists, but he tacitly acknowledged they were his boys and they should wait in the wings.
Wallace: I'm asking you a question. (Interrupted). You have repeatedly criticized the Vice President for not specifically calling out Antifa and other left wing extremists groups. But are you willing tonight to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence of the cities that we saw in Kenosha and that we saw in Portland.
Trump: I'm prepared to do that. I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing.
Wallace: Well what do you say?
Trump: I'm willing to do anything...I want to see peace.
Wallace: Then do it, sir.
Trump: Who do you want to call them? Give me a name. Who would you like me to condemn.
Wallace: White supremecists. Proud Boys.
Trump: Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what - somebody's gotta do something about Antifa and the left, because this is not a right wing problem, this is a left wing...
The exchange begins at 1:05:20 into the video (full video of the debate):
Wallace: I'm asking you a question. (Interrupted). You have repeatedly criticized the Vice President for not specifically calling out Antifa and other left wing extremists groups. But are you willing tonight to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence of the cities that we saw in Kenosha and that we saw in Portland.
Trump: I'm prepared to do that. I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing.
Wallace: Well what do you say?
Trump: I'm willing to do anything...I want to see peace.
Wallace: Then do it, sir.
Trump: Who do you want to call them? Give me a name. Who would you like me to condemn.
Wallace: White supremecists. Proud Boys.
Trump: Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what - somebody's gotta do something about Antifa and the left, because this is not a right wing problem, this is a left wing...
The exchange begins at 1:05:20 into the video (full video of the debate):
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