Schmidt: Trump’s Sending Signal to Neo-Nazis, Klansman ‘You’re an Important and Vital Part of Our Coalition’

EXCERPT:

SCHMIDT: “Well, it speaks to the corruption of the conservative movement in the Republican Party. The reality is that when Donald Trump declares himself a nationalist, the nationalists understand exactly what he means. And by the way, let’s stop calling them white nationalists and call them by their name which are Neo-Nazis and Klansmen. But what Trump has done with regard to 'nationalists,' is send a signal that, well, we may not bring you home to Thanksgiving dinner and put you in the front row at the rallies, but you’re an important and vital part of our coalition. And after Trump said he was a nationalist, if you go to the neo-Nazi website, The Daily Stormer, you see celebration that they have achieved a goal. That they have been given a seat at the table, that their views are held as somewhere in the mainstream, and that they are part of a coalition that is led by Donald Trump. And when you look at that DeSantis ad, remember two things. The first thing he says in the election is, it’s not time to monkey around. Uses the word monkey. Which, of course, is deliberately racist against an African-American opponent. But think about the small 'C' corruption of the Republican Party. Florida is a state with 21 million people. It has very nearly a $1 trillion economy and DeSantis’ argument to put him in charge of that as the Chief Executive is that he is a faithful, obedient drone to the maximum leader Donald Trump. What an absurdity. What a stupid proposition. And so what DeSantis has done is he’s played footsie openly with all of these white nationalists, with the most base elements of the Trump coalition, and Florida voters are rejecting it, which is good.”