Trump “Disavows And Condemns” His Nazi Fans

Politico reports:



President-elect Donald Trump told New York Times reporters on Tuesday that he disavows the fringe political movement that many say helped power his candidacy. But he also rejected the idea that he bears responsibility for the growing prominence of groups espousing white nationalist viewpoints.

“I don’t think so, Dean,” Trump said in response to a question from Times executive editor Dean Baquet about if he has energized the “alt-right.”

The alt-right is a nationalist movement that embraces populism and white identity politics. At times, as was the case at a conference this weekend in Washington, adherents have used outright racist and anti-Semitic attacks to further their views.

“I don’t want to energize the group, and I disavow the group,” Trump told Baquet. “It’s not a group I want to energize, and if they are energized, I want to look into it and find out why.” Asked point-blank about the conference featuring Spencer, Trump again disavowed any support.

“I disavow and condemn them,” Trump told Times reporters. He did chide them for continuing to ask about the topic though, telling one questioner: “Boy, you are really into [this issue].”