Former Klan Leader David Duke Hails Trump’s ‘Great’ Selection Of Sessions For Attorney General

Reprinted with permission from Media Matters. 

David Duke — a white nationalist radio host, noted anti-Semite, failed 2016 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, and former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard — praised reports that Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) will be nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to serve as attorney general. Duke also lauded Trump for naming Stephen Bannon to a senior White House role and picking Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn to be National Security Advisor.

Duke wrote on Twitter, “Bannon, Flynn, Sessions — Great! Senate must demand that Sessions as AG stop the massive institutional race discrimination against whites!”

In 1986, Sessions was nominated to the federal bench, but rejected by the Senate Judiciary Committee due to multiple allegations of racism. As attorney general, Sessions would be in charge of enforcing federal civil rights laws.

Bannon, Trump’s selection for chief strategist, was executive chairman of Breitbart News, an “alt right” outlet that promotes white nationalist views. Flynn has tweeted anti-Semitic material (he later apologized) and has promoted the work of white nationalist “alt right” writer Mike Cernovich on social media. Duke also tweeted that Flynn was a “great pick!”

Trump’s entrance into politics has energized and emboldened the white nationalist movement and he has been the subject of frequent praise by Duke.