"Voting for these people, voting against Donald Trump at this point, is really treason to your heritage,"
"
Tapper repeatedly asked Trump about his knowledge of Duke, but Trump maintained that he does not know who Duke is.
"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 don't know -- did he endorse me, or what's going on? Because I know nothing about David Duke; I know nothing about white supremacists."
In 2000, Trump cited Duke in a statement explaining why he had decided to end his brief involvement with a Reform Party presidential campaign.
"The Reform Party now includes a Klansman, Mr. Duke, a neo-Nazi, Mr. Buchanan and a communist, Ms. Fulani. This is not company I wish to keep," Trump said in a statement reported by The New York Times.
Sunday Trump asserted that he didn't know who Duke is and offered no acknowledgement that Duke was affiliated with the KKK.
"I have to look at the group. I mean, I don't know what group you're talking about," Trump said. "You wouldn't want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about. I'd have to look. 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. You may have groups in there that are totally fine -- it would be very unfair. So give me a list of the groups and I'll let you know."
Moments after the interview aired, other Republican candidates took to Twitter to voice their disapproval. Sean Spicer, GOP chief strategist and communications director, also responded.
Really sad. @realDonaldTrump you're better than this. We should all agree, racism is wrong, KKK is abhorrent. https://t.co/dn2D74c5dl
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) February 28, 2016
We cannot be a party that nominates someone who refuses to condemn white supremacists and the Ku Klux Klan.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 28, 2016
Hate groups have no place in America. We are stronger together. End of story. -Johnhttps://t.co/KtFvFSu4DP
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) February 28, 2016
Are you kidding. Of course the @gop has and does denounce these hate groups/people https://t.co/9EEPobNW03
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) February 28, 2016
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders also weighed in on the social media platform. Hillary Clinton retweeted Sanders' post.
America's first black president cannot and will not be succeeded by a hatemonger who refuses to condemn the KKK.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 28, 2016
Trump responded by tweeting a clip in which he denounced Duke's support at a press conference on Friday, days before he claimed he didn't know the well-known white supremacist.
As I stated at the press conference on Friday regarding David Duke- I disavow. pic.twitter.com/OIXFKPUlz2
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2016
Trump's comments came just two days before Super Tuesday, when multiple states will hold primaries.
Cox Media Group
