New York, NY, February 25, 2016 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on presidential candidate Donald Trump to distance himself from white nationalist and former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke, as well as other white supremacists, and publicly condemn their racism.
Although he did not explicitly endorse Mr. Trump, David Duke recently said on his radio program, “Voting against Donald Trump at this point is really treason to your heritage.” He encouraged listeners to volunteer for the campaign, saying that at Trump campaign offices, “you’re going to meet people that have the same kind of mindset that you have.”
“Mr. Trump may have distanced himself from white supremacists, but he must do so unequivocally,” said Marvin D. Nathan, ADL National Chair, and Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL CEO. “It is time for him to come out firmly against these bigoted views and the people that espouse them.”
In Vermont and Minnesota, the American National Super PAC, a white supremacist super PAC, has been using a robocall to drum up support for Trump. In the message white nationalist American Freedom Party leader William Johnson tells would-be voters, “The white race is dying out in America because we are afraid to be called ‘racist.’” The message claims that there is a “gradual genocide against the white race,” and finishes by urging voters, “Don’t vote for a Cuban. Vote for Donald Trump.” Similar robocalls emerged in New Hampshire before the primary elections there.
When asked in December if he would repudiate an endorsement from David Duke, Mr. Trump told NBC News, “Sure.” When asked about the robocalls earlier this month, Mr. Trump’s campaign told CNN that he has “disavowed all super PACs offering their support and continues to do so.” He reportedly said that he would return a $250 donation from Johnson.
As a 501c3 nonprofit organization, ADL takes no position on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for office.