Letter: We should take Trump at his Freudian slip

President Donald Trump speaks during the first presidential debate Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at Case Western University and Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. | Julio Cortez, Associated Press

Many of us, myself included, have experienced instances when someone has been taken off guard and said something reflecting their true intent, later wishing they hadn’t said it because it wasn’t in their best interest.

I think that’s exactly what happened to President Donald Trump during his debate with Joe Biden when challenged to denounce white supremacist followers. Instead of condemning in no uncertain terms, he told them to “stand back and stand by.” Not exactly a ringing denunciation — more realistically an accurate portrayal of his tacit acceptance, if not total endorsement, of far-right, racist, extremist groups.

The same kind of slip-up that happened in response to the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacist march, countered by Antifa advocates protesting the KKK and white supremacy. He claimed there were fine people on “both sides” of the violent clash that resulted in the murder of a protester.

What can’t be denied is that the iffy stance taken by Trump has made him a hero of white supremacist groups like the Proud Boys, who pledged allegiance following the debate. I guess that means “standing by” to await whatever the president may next hint at to support their agenda.

Raymond Hult

Bountiful

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