President-elect Donald Trump just told the New York Times that he is completely unaware that his White House chief strategist, Steve Bannon, is a white nationalist.
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
The “alt-right” is a term white nationalists coined for themselves to not sound so racist. But that’s what they are.
And Bannon, CEO of the uber-conservative news site Breitbart, proudly told Mother Jones back in August — when Trump first hired him as campaign chair — “We’re the platform for the alt-right.”
Trump went on to say that he thinks “Breitbart is just a publication” that covers stories just like the New York Times covers stories.
Trump is asked about concerns from minority groups about Breitbart News’s coverage under Steve Bannon. His reply: pic.twitter.com/FBqCGwQpBr
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
He also defended Bannon from all the criticism he’s received for being a white nationalist, painting him as a victim.
Trump says that criticism of Stephen Bannon is "very hard on him. I think he’s having a hard time of it. Because it’s not him."
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
"A lot of people are coming to his defense right now," Trump says of Bannon. Reince voices support too at conference table.
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016
When asked about the white nationalist conference held in Washington, D.C. this Saturday, Trump expressed annoyance that the press was still talking about it. He eventually denounced the event— after having to be asked about it a second time — but it was actually the first time he’s personally said anything about it in the several days since it happened.
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
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
Will the President-elect condemn Richard Spencer’s alt-right gathering? “I condemn them. I disavow, and I condemn,” says Trump.
— Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016
Given that Trump has an extensive history of using his own racist rhetoric, retweeting racist and anti-Semitic memes created by white nationalists, and providing a platform to white nationalists like Bannon, his pleading of ignorance about how he energizes the movement is quite literally unbelievable.