[wilg]

[0] is a fear, not a conspiracy theory, as it relates to worries about what might occur.

[1] You are right, he did say that quote, but people look to his hesitancy to directly answer that question, as seen in his answers before and after, and his other repeated dogwhistles and courting of these groups, and other surrounding context. I don't think this is a conspiracy theory as much as you taking some of Trump's words at face value and other people examining his words and actions more closely. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-condemn-white-suprem...

[_-david-_]

As for [0] if qanon is considered a conspiracy theory then I fail to see how thinking Trump is going to do a coup wouldn't qualify. At what point in time is it just fearful thinking vs a conspiracy theory?

As for [1]. It is the exact opposite of taking his words at face value. He literally said he condemns them shortly after his original statement. Trump has a history of condemning white supremacy longer than some people on this forum have even been alive. I don't remember the exact number but Trump has made something like 20 public condemnations of white supremacy in the last 30 years.

The article you posted is from well after he was first called a neonazi. He did say "Sure, I'm willing to do that." which typically would imply he was in fact condemning neonazis. If anybody other than Trump said that everyone would have agreed he was condemning them especially when taking into context his repeated condemnations. Trump isn't exactly known for being a quality speaker so his statement seems sufficient. Sure he should have been explicit, but anybody who still thinks Trump supports white supremacy is just ignoring his statements.

[wilg]

Was typing out a response but it's hard to walk through the first principles of critical thinking to explain why you're having trouble understanding this, so I don't have a point-by-point response.

Regarding the last point, you are right people are ignoring those statements because they are typically overshadowed by his other actions, statements, and beliefs, and by how difficult it can be to get him to make them. People with racist and bigoted beliefs typically know they are socially unacceptable, so they almost alway say they are not racist or bigoted. I was particularly struck by this documentary wherein a KKK leader denies being racist: https://video.vice.com/de_ch/video/hate-thy-neighbour-americ... (haven't seen it since it came out so I'm paraphrasing). So anyway, people look to his actions and the surrounding context (like when he kept pushing a racist conspiracy theory about Barack Obama being born in Kenya for years and years), which is why Donald Trump is typically considered to be racist.

[_-david-_]

Let me get this straight. You believe saying Obama is from Kenya is a conspiracy theory, but think accusing Trump of planning a coup is just fearful thinking?

You pretty clearly are just choosing what to call a conspiracy theory based on politics. There is no sense in continuing this conversation since you have shown you do not have a consistent definition of conspiracy theory.

[wilg]

It depends on the actual evidence about what is going on!

Also, accusing him of planning a coup is different than fearing he will attempt one. There were valid reasons to be concerned about that.

You're doing the exact same thing you're accusing me of, which is choosing what to call a conspiracy theory based on politics! You think it's ridiculous that he would plan a coup, so it is convenient for you to call it a conspiracy theory to try to make your argument work.