The recently concluded first presidential debate was teeming with false claims and controversial remarks from Donald Trump. Members of the far-right group the Proud Boys took to social media to celebrate comments made by the president while responding to a debate question about white supremacists, which he refused to condemn.
Trump went on to advising the male-only group known for its liking for street violence to "stand back and stand by." Furthermore, he used the allotted time to accuse what he called "Antifa and the left" of encouraging violence and told the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by."
Trump's answer was soon floating around the internet in the form of memes and other social media posts shared by the account that reportedly belonged to Proud Boys members. Some even displayed the phrase "stand back and stand by" onto the group's logos, while others used the president's words as sort of a rallying cry, and continue to promote it.
The group is now taking advantage of the president's remarks urging them to stand by and turning it into a profit by selling merchandise with the aforesaid comment on it. CNN's Elle Reeve spoke to the group's leader Enrique Tarrio, who said he was happy about Trump's comments, which he didn't see as an endorsement.
Tarrio interpreted the president's choice of words, "stand back and stand by" as an indication that they should continue doing what they are doing. Despite claiming a diverse membership, Tarrio revealed that he is Cuban American. The Proud Boys group's code of belief comprises closed borders, and its goal is to reinstate a spirit of Western chauvinism, Tarrio explained.
Proud Boys group has released online statements suggesting that they resorted to using violence in self-defence. The members, however, are usually spotted carrying bats, firearms, and wearing protective gear, with some members been convicted of crimes against anti-fascist protesters.
The ADL (Anti Defamation League) describes the group's ideology as "misogynistic, Islamophobic, transphobic, and anti-immigration." Their supporters have been spotted during recent nationwide protests, including in Portland.
The recently concluded presidential debate is another example of Trump refusing an opportunity to condemn White supremacist groups within the country. Just a day after the debate, Trump clarified he had no idea who the Proud Boys were, and again refused to criticize White supremacists before demanding Biden to condemn Antifa.
Proud Boys was created in 2016 by the co-founder of Vice, Gavin McInnes, according to the group's website. McInnes announced his exit from the far-right group in Nov. 2018, according to The Daily Beast.