02:10USA: WH Press Sec. McEnany argues with reporters over Trump's white supremacy stance
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany quarrelled with reporters on Thursday as they called on US President Donald Trump to "unambiguously" denounce white supremacy, during a press briefing at the White House in Washington DC.
McEnany refused to condemn white supremacist groups on behalf of Trump throughout the press briefing, instead pointing out past statements made by the president denouncing the KKK and white supremacism. "He has condemned white supremacy more than any president in modern history," McEnany stated.
Reporters asked McEnany about remarks made by Trump during the first presidential debate, when he told the far right-wing 'Proud Boys' group to 'stand back and stand by' during a discussion on white supremacists and right-wing militia. McEnany defended Trump's remarks, saying that he utilised "stand down" as a synonym for "stand back." The secretary also added that the president didn't know who the group were.
McEnany accused FOX News reporter John Roberts of "contriving a storyline and a narrative" after he asked her to "make a declarative statement that you denounce, that the president denounces it" after criticising her for just reading "a bunch of quotes from the past.
With early voting already underway, the 2020 US presidential election is scheduled to be held on November 3.
02:10White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany quarrelled with reporters on Thursday as they called on US President Donald Trump to "unambiguously" denounce white supremacy, during a press briefing at the White House in Washington DC.
McEnany refused to condemn white supremacist groups on behalf of Trump throughout the press briefing, instead pointing out past statements made by the president denouncing the KKK and white supremacism. "He has condemned white supremacy more than any president in modern history," McEnany stated.
Reporters asked McEnany about remarks made by Trump during the first presidential debate, when he told the far right-wing 'Proud Boys' group to 'stand back and stand by' during a discussion on white supremacists and right-wing militia. McEnany defended Trump's remarks, saying that he utilised "stand down" as a synonym for "stand back." The secretary also added that the president didn't know who the group were.
McEnany accused FOX News reporter John Roberts of "contriving a storyline and a narrative" after he asked her to "make a declarative statement that you denounce, that the president denounces it" after criticising her for just reading "a bunch of quotes from the past.
With early voting already underway, the 2020 US presidential election is scheduled to be held on November 3.