In an evening full of disturbing comments, the most egregious was Donald Trump's nod toward sedition during the debate of presidential candidates on 29 Sep 2020.
It began when moderator Chris Wallace gave Trump a direct and explicit opportunity to condemn white supremacists and militia groups.
Trump refused to do so and instead asked "Give me a name, give me a name, go ahead, who do you want me to condemn?" Wallace's reply repeated his previous request to condemn "white supremacist and right-wing militia."
Trump's reply was astonishing. "Proud Boys, stand back and stand by."
When pushed to come up with a white supremacist militia, the first and only group he addressed was the Proud Boys. Therefore, it's clear that Trump knows that the Proud Boys are a white nationalist militia. Trump should also know that the Dept. of Homeland Security has reported that white supremacists present the gravest terror threat to the U.S.
But Trump doesn't condemn them as asked. Instead he issues them orders as their de facto leader, "Stand back and stand by."
Why is the President of the United States, with all the powers afforded to that office for upholding and enforcing the law, ordering a white nationalist militia to "stand by"? Stand by for what? Presumably to stand by and prepare to take violent action against citizens of this country when called upon by him (in other words, to commit crimes).
Sedition is defined as "conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state."
I would say that ordering a white nationalist militia to "stand by" to take violent action borders on "speech inciting people to rebel against authority."
Members of all three branches of the federal government and members of all branches of the military have a constitutional duty to protect this country from all enemies, including domestic seditionists.
Also, by failing to condemn white supremacists Trump has made it clear that he at at least condones them, condones the gravest terror threat to this country.
Update, 06 Jan 2021: I told you so.
