During the first presidential debate, Chris Wallace asked President Trump to “condemn white supremacists and militia groups.” President Trump replied that he would, but wanted specifics. Mr. Wallace identified “white supremacist and right-wing militia” and Joe Biden named the Proud Boys. President Trump rather confusingly responded that the Proud Boys should “stand back and stand by.” Many journalists and politicians criticized him. Kamala Harris said it was a “dog whistle through a bullhorn.” Charles Schumer called it a “national disgrace.”

President Donald J. Trump (C) and Democratic presidential nominee former United States Vice President Joe Biden (R), with Chris Wallace moderating, face off in the first of three scheduled 90 minute presidential debates, in Cleveland, Ohio, on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 (Credit Image: © Kevin Dietsch / POOL / CNP via ZUMA Wire)

The Proud Boys were initially thrilled. They tried to sell merchandise reading “stand back and stand by.” Amazon and eBay blocked it. However, the Proud Boys also wanted to show they were not white supremacists. Enrique Tarrio, a black man and the international chairman, issued a statement: “I denounce white supremacy. I denounce anti-Semitism. I denounce racism. I denounce fascism. I denounce communism and any other -ism that is prejudiced toward people because of their race, religion, culture, tone of skin.”

It did not save the Proud Boys. On the Sean Hannity program, President Trump said: “I’ve said it many times, let me be clear again, I condemn the KKK. I condemn all white supremacists. I condemn the Proud Boys.” However, President Trump added, “I don’t know much about the Proud Boys, almost nothing, but I condemn them.”

President Trump’s comments were more of a ritual than a denunciation. Joe Biden told President Trump to disavow the Proud Boys. President Trump didn’t do it energetically enough to satisfy the Democrats and their journalist allies. After one negative news cycle, President Trump criticized a group about which he knew almost nothing.

Gavin McInnes, founder of the Proud Boys at Freedom Plaza in Washington D.C. on July 6, 2019 to ”Demand Free Speech.'(Photo by Jeff Malet) (Credit Image: © Jeff Malet / Newscom via ZUMA Press)

President Trump’s words were still not enough for media. Over the weekend, LGBTQ (and whatever other letters I’m missing) activists started calling themselves “Proud Boys” and posting pictures of themselves kissing. Top media praised this.

• Proud Boys: Far-right group becomes LGBT trend online, BBC, October 5, 2020


• The Proud Boys were emboldened by Trump’s words. Then, LGBTQ couples reclaimed the group’s hashtag, by Jaclyn Peiser, Washington Post, October 5, 2020


• Twitter users take over Proud Boys hashtag with photos of LGBTQ love, by April Siese, CBS News, October 5, 2020

There are well over a dozen stories about this non-event from major media outlets. An official twitter account for the Canadian military even posted a photo of soldiers in uniform kissing.