The Zionist Organization of America has called on President-elect Donald Trump to condemn alt-right leader Richard Spencer for chanting "Hail Trump" and making derogatory remarks about Jews at a conference Saturday in Washington D.C.
"While President-elect Trump’s transition team issued a general response to the conduct, stating that the president-elect has 'continued to denounce racism,' what happened demands far more from the future leader of our country. ... President-elect Trump must make it crystal clear to these racists and to every American that we will not stand for anti-Semitism or any other form of bigotry," ZOA President Morton A. Klein said in a statement.
President-elect Trump did disavow and condemn the alt-right movement in a meeting with New York Times reporters Tuesday, saying, “I condemn them. I disavow, and I condemn.”
Trump, who has faced criticism from some for naming Steve Bannon as his chief strategist and senior adviser, also stated Bannon is not racist or part of the alt-right movement in any way.
“It’s not a group I want to energize,” Trump said of Spencer’s alt-right group. “And if they are energized I want to look into it and find out why.” He denied being an energizing force for the group even though many in it supported his candidacy.
“President-Elect Trump has continued to denounce racism of any kind and he was elected because he will be a leader for every American,” said Trump spokesman Brian Lanza on Monday, although he didn't specifically acknowledge Saturday's conference, The Hill reported.
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