Former President George W. Bush senior adviser Karl Rove condemned President Trump for not forcefully denouncing QAnon.
Rove called Trump’s failure to distance himself from the conspiratorial group during Wednesday afternoon’s press briefing a “big mistake” during a segment on Fox News’s Special Report afterward.
“This is a group of nuts and kooks, and he ought to disavow them. They might like him, but they like him because they think he is fighting an incredible war against forces of pedographic evil. It’s just ridiculous. Disavow them, get done with it,” he added.
Trump, during his press conference, was asked if he’s concerned about the support he receives from the QAnon movement, which subscribes to the belief that a group of powerful Democratic sex traffickers is working to take down Trump, who is seeking to stop them. The FBI has said that adherents to the theory could pose a domestic terror threat.
The president responded by showing gratitude for their support but noted that he’s not familiar with their ideology.
“I don’t know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate. But I don’t know much about the movement. I have heard that it is gaining in popularity. … I’ve heard these are people that love our country, and they just don’t like seeing [riots]. So, I don’t know really anything about it other than they do supposedly like me,” Trump said.
He was then asked about the conspiracy beliefs that QAnon supporters espouse.
“I haven’t heard that,” Trump said of the theory. “Is that supposed to be a bad thing or a good thing? I mean, you know. If I can help save the world from problems, I’m willing to do it. I’m willing to put myself out there. And we are, actually. We’re saving the world from a radical left philosophy that will destroy this country, and when this country is gone, the rest of the world would follow. … That’s the importance of this country.”
