Trump refuses to denounce white supremacism and instead tells Proud Boys to ‘stand back and stand by'

Donald Trump invoked a far-right group tied to violence after refusing to condemn white supremacism during his first debate appearance with Democratic candidate Joe Biden.

In a stunning and rare quiet moment in the chaotic debate, moderator Chris Wallace asked the president whether he is “willing to condemn white supremacists and militia groups and they need to stand down.”

“I’m willing to do that,” the president said, adding that "but everything I see is from the left wing

Pressed to denounce violent white nationalism, the president asked for the name of a group.

He said: "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by, but I'll tell you what, somebody's gotta do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem, this is a left-wing problem."