17% Of Trump Backers Think Neo-Nazi Views Are ‘Acceptable’

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By Daniel J. Solomon August 22, 2017

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After President Trump blamed “both sides” neo-Nazi violence in Charlottesville, more than one in six of his supporters told pollsters that having white supremacist views is “acceptable.”

According to the ABC News/Washington Post survey, a full 17% of Trump voters characterized neo-Nazi and white supremacist views as “acceptable” – compared to a still-shocking 9% of the overall population and 13% of Republicans.

Since his comments on Charlottesville, the president has been widely blasted as having given cover to the so-called “alt-right,” white nationalists and white supremacists.

The poll showed strong disapproval to his reaction to the events in Charlottesville – with 56% disapproving of his handling of the crisis and 28% approving.

His overall standing in the polls – how many Americans like his job performance – remains fairly static at 37%.

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at [email protected] or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

Daniel J. Solomon is the former Assistant to the Editor/News Writer at the Forward. Originally from Queens, he attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where he wrote his senior thesis on French-Jewish intellectual history. He is excited to have returned to New York after his time in Massachusetts. Daniel’s passions include folk music, cycling, and pointed argument.