Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump argued Monday that he isn’t sure why white supremacist groups are backing his candidacy, and declared that he is the “least racist person” anyone could meet.
Trump also told CNN that he doesn’t want or need the support from white nationalist groups.
“I don’t know, because I am the least racist person that you’ll ever meet,” Trump said on CNN just before his American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) speech.
“I don’t know, and I don’t know that they really are,” he said when asked why he might be picking up that support. “You’re telling me that, so I don’t really know.”
“I don’t know why [they support me]. I am certainly the least racist person, believe me,” Trump added. “I don’t want their support. I don’t need their support.”
Trump previewed his AIPAC speech by repeating his statement that he’d like to be “neutral” and broker a deal between the two parties. Trump told the host that he’d “love to be neutral” if possible, but cautioned that it’s probably not possible given the current circumstances.
“I would love to be neutral if it’s possible. It’s probably not possible because there’s so much hatred. There’s so much going on. I am very pro-Israel. I’ve always been pro-Israel. I have many awards from Israel, many awards. I’ve contributed a lot of money to Israel.”
Trump added that in order for neutrality to potentially kick in, the Palestinians must stop terrorizing the region, and said “it’s got to end.”
“They have to end terror, OK? They have to stop with the terror because what they’re doing with the missiles and with the stabbings and with all of the other things that they do, it’s horrible and … it’s got to end,” Trump said of the Palestinians. “Now, I have many, many friends from Israel and Jewish friends. Everybody wants to see peace. It seems to me the all-time Olympics in peace in a deal. Can you make that deal between Israel and the Palestinians. I think the answer is maybe, and I never say that.”
