Back in February, Donald Trump refused to denounce former Klu Klux Klan leader David Duke — or, just white supremacists in general — until he had a chance to learn more about them.
“I know nothing about David Duke,” Trump told CNN. “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.”
The Trump campaign later disavowed Duke’s support. But the white supremacist has continued championing the Republican nominee’s campaign, nonetheless, while pursuing his own quixotic bid for a Senate seat.
This week, Trump earned the endorsement of a KKK-affiliated newspaper, while CNN reported that the Klan plans to suppress African-American voting next week, to facilitate Trump’s election.
And so, when Eric Trump got his cue to repudiate Duke in a radio interview Wednesday, he made sure to issue his condemnation in the strongest possible terms.
“The guy does deserve a bullet,” Trump’s son told 630 KHOW Denver, as first reported by CNN’s KFile. “I mean, these aren’t good people. These are horrible people. In fact, I commend my father. My father’s the first Republican who’s gone out and said, ‘Listen, what’s happened to the African-American community is horrible and I’m going to take care of it.’”
So the Trumps seem to be moving in the right direction here. But, generally speaking, when you want to communicate the sincerity of your opposition to political extremism, it’s best to avoid calling for the assassination of a Senate candidate.
