Donald Trump has received a controversial endorsement in his presidential bid.
The leader of the Rebel Brigade Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, identified only as their "Imperial Wizard," told a reporter for Richmond, Virginia-area news outlet WWBT in a wide-ranging interview on 28 April 2016 that he (like many KKK members) supports Trump for President of the United States:
"You're paying attention to the presidential elections this time? In your own personal opinion, who is best for the job?” I asked the Imperial Wizard.
“I think Donald Trump would be best for the job,” said the Imperial Wizard. "The reason a lot of Klan members like Donald Trump is because a lot of what he believes in, we believe in. We want our country to be safe."
The Imperial Wizard said he supports Trump’s calls to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States.
"If Donald Trump dropped out tomorrow I would support Kasich before I would Ted Cruz because he is not an American citizen,” said the Imperial Wizard. “Even if I agree with some of the things that Ted Cruz says, I would not support him because he was born in Canada. He is not an American citizen."
Trump received criticism in February 2016, after securing an endorsement from the equally polarizing David Duke (a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard who describes himself as a "racial realist"). At that time, Trump refused to publicly condemn or disavow Duke's backing, despite having described him as "a bigot, a racist, a problem" years before. He did eventually, however, say: "I disavow. OK?"
Trump has not yet publicly commented about the most recent endorsement.
Last updated: 02 May 2016
Originally published: 02 May 2016
"Donald Trump on David Duke Announcement: 'I Disavow, OK?'"
CBS New York. 28 February 2016.
Thomas, Chris. "KKK Leader Disavows Violent Past, Declares Trump 'Best' for President."
NBC12/WWBT. 28 April 2016.
Brooke Binkowski is an award-winning journalist and researcher. She has written and produced for CNN, CBS, NPR, the Globe and Mail, AJ+, the Christian Science Monitor, and various other outlets. Brooke speaks two languages well and five languages very badly. She loves to travel, run, play music, and read, and is an avid saber fencer and an accordion enthusiast.