Conflicting Narratives on Whether Trump Has Condemned White Supremacy

Differing narratives have emerged on the president's attitudes toward white supremacy following his controversial response to a question about white supremacy at the presidential debate earlier this week. Some politicians and others on both the left and right say Trump's response to the question was a disturbing refusal to denounce right-wing extremism. Others say it's not as simple, and reference the president's past comments on the subject; following mass shootings in Ohio and Texas last year, Trump said "our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy." Thursday evening, Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity, "I condemn the KKK, I condemn all White supremacists, I condemn the Proud Boys. I don't know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn that." News coverage from many left- and some center-rated sources is more focused on Trump's debate answer, and the idea that it was dangerous and a concerning failure to denounce violent hate groups. Coverage from right-rated sources is focused on both the recent comment and Trump's past denouncements of white supremacy, and also on purported falsities being disseminated by sources who report on the president's alleged refusal to condemn white supremacy. Editor's Note: Updated 10/2/20 at 8:20 a.m. ET to include the president's comments from Thursday.