Yes, folks. On the heels of Cecile Richards’ gratitude for his “kind words” about Planned Parenthood, Donald Trump is apparently on the road to locking up the coveted David Duke endorsement:
David Duke tells supporters: “Voting against Donald Trump at this point is really treason to your heritage.” https://t.co/Pd41rRTxMg
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) February 25, 2016
More from BuzzFeed:
“Voting for these people, voting against Donald Trump at this point is really treason to your heritage,” Duke said on the David Duke Radio Program Wednesday, referring to Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio. “I’m not saying I endorse everything about Trump, in fact I haven’t formally endorsed him. But I do support his candidacy, and I support voting for him as a strategic action. I hope he does everything we hope he will do.”
Duke then urged his followers to call Trump’s campaign headquarters to volunteer.
“And I am telling you that it is your job now to get active. Get off your duff. Get off your rear end that’s getting fatter and fatter for many of you everyday on your chairs. When this show’s over, go out, call the Republican Party, but call Donald Trump’s headquarters, volunteer. They’re screaming for volunteers. Go in there, you’re gonna meet people who are going to have the same kind of mindset that you have.”
Granted, David Duke has been on the fringe of society for a while now, and he’s free to throw his support behind any candidate he chooses, but the optics of this don’t seem all that great. Trump’s been accused of courting the white supremacist vote, and this doesn’t help to dispel those concerns.
Of course, it depends on who you ask. Some people think very highly of Duke:
#DavidDuke pic.twitter.com/gEY4pU00xU
— Peter Knox (@TheSaxonBreed) February 25, 2016
David Duke pic.twitter.com/WWjuPfFwzY
— Paddy McNotacuck (@Chinny428) February 25, 2016
All this hype about #DavidDuke is silly. If you watch his videos, he's actually quite tolerant & academic: https://t.co/zbi9MDtgJH
— Alt Right (@_AltRight_) February 25, 2016
Those who denounce Dr. David Duke as an extremist also make it clear they've never listened to what the man says. https://t.co/oze7fT6TBW
— Anglo von Trapp (@88_Odalist) February 25, 2016
@KG1116
I took a look at myself.
And realized that David Duke and the Klan are right about everything.— absolute (@Absolutism_USA) February 25, 2016
https://twitter.com/IR0NGU4RD/status/702925383222427648
Nice to see David Duke TRENDING.
One of the few sane voices in an insane world. @DrDavidDuke
— Nonjob6 (@Nonjob6) February 25, 2016
#DavidDuke You can't stump the trump @realDonaldTrump and you can't Rebuke the Duke for telling the truth…#MakeAmericaGreatAgain
— Red Pilled Rabbi (@AngeloJohnGage) February 25, 2016
David Duke is a wonderful educator and champion of white rights. Preservation of our people isn't racist, it's survival.#DavidDuke
— Appalachian Son (@KinFolkFirst) February 25, 2016
David Duke is a true patriot. Trump should thank him for the endorsement
— Paul (@pinchicagoo) February 25, 2016
Meanwhile, plenty of conservatives are disturbed, to say the least.
These disgusting people-resembling-things should not feel empowered after election. #donaldtrumpdelendusest https://t.co/deSggAN2kB
— Pejman Yousefzadeh (@Yousefzadeh) February 25, 2016
This is DISGUSTING #DumpTrump: David Duke, ex-KKK grand wizard, urges supporters to vote for Trump: https://t.co/wb3havydUe via @washtimes
— Angela ن (@Iloveperfumeso) February 25, 2016
I was already never going to vote for Trump. The David Duke endorsement shows I made the right choice. #DumpTrump #CruzCrew
— #NeverTrump – KC_EDM (@KC_EDM) February 25, 2016
Trump has made it very easy for racists like David Duke to feel comfortable within his fake conservative movement
— Matthew (@Matthops82) February 25, 2016
If a former KKK leader is praising YOUR candidate, you might need to do an evaluation of your core beliefs. https://t.co/E1jnNuugvm
— Demetrius Minor (@dminor85) February 25, 2016
DAVID DUKE IS NOW ENDORSING TRUMP. He is turning the GOP into everything my lib friends have said we were. I loathe him.
— Rebecca Bahret (@rbahret) February 25, 2016
Wake up Republicans or kiss your party goodbye. David Duke of KKK infamy endorses Trump.
— Katherine Morrison (@kmorrison) February 25, 2016
Trump has yet to weigh in himself, at least on Twitter.
It doesn't worry me when scum like David Duke support a candidate. It worries me when the candidate accepts their support.
— Jeff E. (@JedadiahLeland) February 25, 2016
Guess we’ll have to stay tuned to see what happens.