With Donald Trump roiling Republican politics, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) felt the need on Tuesday to “condemn” David Duke, the KKK, and racism on behalf of Senate Republicans.
McConnell made the comments to reporters on Capitol Hill after Trump’s Sunday interview in which he avoided disavowing Duke.
McConnell weighs in on Trump/KKK – very rare for him to do. “Senate Republicans condemn David Duke, the KKK and his racism.”
— Ali Weinberg (@AliABCNews) March 1, 2016
“McConnell: The Republican Party” must “condemn, in the strongest possible way, the KJK, David Duke, and everything they stand for.”
— Todd Zwillich (@toddzwillich) March 1, 2016
McConnell: “Senate Republicans condemn David Duke, KKK, and his racism.”
— Laura Barron-Lopez (@lbarronlopez) March 1, 2016
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) also denounced the KKK in a press conference on Tuesday and criticized Trump for not clearly distancing himself from Duke.
“If a person wants to be a nominee of the Republican Party there can be no evasion and no games. They must reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry,” he said. “The Republican Party does not prey on people’s prejudices.”
