"When you apply to become a part of a chapter or part of our fraternity, it isn't like we ask, ‘What's your race, are you a white supremacist, are you a fascist?’" But one of the things we're not is white supremacists and fascists," he said. You can call us a whole bunch of different names. Proud Boys International Chairman Enrique Tarrio said the US president's mention has been great for recruiting and recognition – the Proud Boys put out a call for people interested in joining to get in touch – but he lamented that the national conversation linked his group with white supremacy. Whatever group you are talking about," Trump told reporters. "They have to stand down, they have to stand down. It'd be pretty scary to try and go vote and have hundreds of people screaming at you about these ideas."ĭespite what he said at the debate, Trump on Wednesday (Thursday NZT) said he didn't know who the Proud Boys are.
"I think at this point, the biggest thing to worry about is election day. "You're essentially telling a paramilitary force to 'stand by,'" said Heidi Beirich, an expert on far-right politics who co-founded the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism.
For many members, the US president's remark was just the boost they craved, lending a new sense of purpose and legitimacy to their violent tactics and translating almost instantaneously into a recruitment drive.Įxperts in extremism agreed that Trump's comments amounted to an unprecedented shout-out to a group that, while small, has a demonstrated history of fomenting street violence. After operating on the political fringes for several years, the Proud Boys have recently made a push for more mainstream acceptance.
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