On State of the Union Sunday morning, Donald Trump told Jake Tapper that he did not know anything about David Duke, the white nationalist and former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, and he declined Tapper's offers to condemn white supremacist support.
"I want to ask you about the anti-defamation league which this week called on you to publicly condemn unequivocally the racism of former KKK Grand Wizard, David Duke, who recently said that ‘voting against you would be treason to your heritage,’" Tapper said. "Will you unequivocally condemn David Duke and say you don't want his vote or that of other white supremacists in this election?"
Tapper is referring to when Duke publicly declared his support for the Republican front-runner.
"When this show’s over, go out, call the Republican Party, but call Donald Trump’s headquarters, volunteer," Duke said. "They’re screaming for volunteers. Go in there, you’re going to meet people who are going to have the same kind of mindset that you have."
Trump responded by saying that he did not know enough about David Duke or the group to give an answer.
"Well just so you understand, I don't know anything about David Duke. OK? I don't know anything about what you're even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists," Trump said. "So, I don't know. I mean, I don't know, did he endorse me, or what's going on? Because, you know, I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists. And so, you're asking me a question that I'm supposed to be talking about people that I know nothing about."
Tapper continued, "But I guess the question from the Anti-Defamation League is even if you don't know about their endorsement, there are these groups and individuals endorsing you. Would you just say unequivocally you condemn them and you don't want their support?"
Trump stated again that has to look into the group because "you wouldn't want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about."
"I have to look," Trump said. "If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them, and certainly I would disavow if I thought there was something wrong."
"The Ku Klux Klan?" Tapper asked. "I'm just talking about David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan here."
"Honestly, I don't know David Duke. I don't believe I've ever met him, I'm pretty sure I didn't meet him, and I just don't know anything about him," Trump said.
Oddly, Trump said just days ago that he did disavow Duke's support.