In an interview on CNN this morning, Donald Trump said he would not disavow the support of white nationalist and ex-Ku Klux Klansman David Duke, or white supremacist groups in general, because he doesn’t know about them:
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.
A stunned State of the Union host Jake Tapper asked Trump the same question two more times, and Trump gave the same answer.
But in 2000, Trump ended his presidential bid by explaining that would not accept the Reform Party’s nomination because Duke was involved in it:
“The Reform Party now includes a Klansman, Mr. Duke, a neo-Nazi, Mr. [Pat] Buchanan, and a communist, Ms. [Lenora] Fulani. This is not company I wish to keep,” he stated.
Later this morning, Trump posted a short video clip from a press conference on Friday where he said he disavows David Duke. (As an aside, check out the reaction to the reporter’s question from Trump’s new sidekick, Chris Christie.)
As I stated at the press conference on Friday regarding David Duke- I disavow. pic.twitter.com/OIXFKPUlz2
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2016
To recap, here’s the timeline regarding Trump’s stance on David Duke:
2000: Disavows David Duke
2016, February 26: Disavows Duke
2016, February 28, early morning: Does not disavow Duke
2016, February 28, later in the morning: Disavows Duke