Trump opts not to condemn right-wing groups
President Trump was offered the opportunity at the presidential debate to condemn white supremacists and right-wing militias but instead pivoted to criticizing leftist protesters.
Video Transcript
CHRIS WALLACE: You have repeatedly criticized the Vice President for not specifically calling out Antifa and other left wing extremist groups. But are you willing, tonight, to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and to say that they need to stand down and not add to the violence in a number of these cities, as we saw in Kenosha and as we've seen in Portland?
DONALD TRUMP: Sure, I'm willing to do that.
CHRIS WALLACE: Are you prepared to specifically do it? Go ahead, sir.
DONALD TRUMP: I would say almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing.
CHRIS WALLACE: So what are you saying?
DONALD TRUMP: I'm willing to do anything. I want to see peace.
CHRIS WALLACE: Then do it, sir.
JOE BIDEN: Say it. Do it. Say it.
DONALD TRUMP: You want to call them-- what do you want to call them? Give me a name, give me a name.
CHRIS WALLACE: White supremacists and white--
DONALD TRUMP: Go ahead. Who would you like me to condemn? Who?
CHRIS WALLACE: --white supremacists and right wing militia.
DONALD TRUMP: The Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I'll tell you what, I'll tell you what. Somebody has got to do something about Antifa and the left. Because this is not a right wing problem. This is a left wing--
JOE BIDEN: His own FBI director said--
DONALD TRUMP: This is a left wing problem.
JOE BIDEN: --the threat comes from white supremacists. Antifa is an idea, not an organization. Not a militia. That's what his FBI, his FBI Director said.
DONALD TRUMP: Well, then, you know what? He's wrong.
CHRIS WALLACE: No, no, we're done sir. We're moving on to the next--
DONALD TRUMP: If a bat hits you over the head, that's not an idea.
JOE BIDEN: Everybody in your administration--
DONALD TRUMP: Antifa is bad.
JOE BIDEN: --who tells you the truth, it's a bad idea.
DONALD TRUMP: Can I tell you what--
JOE BIDEN: You have no ideas that are--
DONALD TRUMP: Antifa is a dangerous radical group.
CHRIS WALLACE: All right. Gentlemen, we're now moving on to the Trump and Biden records.
DONALD TRUMP: And you ought to be careful.
