President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden argue about white supremacy and ANTIFA at the first 2020 presidential debate. USA TODAY
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden went head-to-head in the first presidential debate Tuesday night, and celebrities weren’t shy about sharing their thoughts on social media.
One moment that had stars tweeting was when Trump sidestepped a call to condemn white supremacists.
During the debate, when pressed by Biden and moderator Chris Wallace to condemn white supremacists, the president asked for the name of a specific group.
Biden said “Proud Boys,” a group that the Southern Poverty Law Center, a liberal advocacy organization, has designated as a hate group.
Trump responded, “Proud Boys – stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left.”
Alyssa Milano shared a short and simple reaction on Twitter: “You either denounce white supremacy or you’re a (expletive) racist.”
Chance the Rapper used the moment as a call to action for voting.
“The entire country has to make a decision as to whether it will continue to downplay the fact that our President is an openly racist White Supremacist and what that means for its citizens, or… VOTE HIM OUT,” he tweeted.
Kumail Nanjiani expressed shock.
“Did he just tell white supremacists to ‘stand by?’ ” he tweeted.
Later he shared his “big takeaway from the debate.”
“Trump was asked to condemn white supremacists, and not only did he refuse to do so, he told them to ‘stand back and stand by.’ You know, as if he is their leader,” he wrote. “That’s the takeaway.”
Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., said his father was “more than happy” to condemn the group in an interview with Gayle King of CBS News.
“I don’t know if that was a misspeak, but he was talking about having them stand down,” Trump Jr. said.
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Kerry Washington also called out the moment, writing, “Once again. He refuses to condemn White supremacy. PAY ATTENTION FOLKS. Please vote.”
Jim Gaffigan tweeted, “An interesting theory of why Trump doesn’t denounce white supremacy is he a racist pig and nobody with any sense of decency should support or vote for him… I’m so embarrassed he is the President.”
“Star Wars” star Mark Hamill called the comments “beyond embarrassing” and “downright shameful.”
Patricia Arquette tweeted, “What Trump said about the Proud boys was as low as any President has ever gone in my lifetime in America. Enough. Vote him out. Vote him out and let’s start repairing all this damage.”
Mia Farrow tweeted, “Trump would not, could not condemn white supremacists.”
Other celebrities shared general reactions about the debate, which including testy exchanges and heated moments of crosstalk between the candidates.
Singer Pink wrote, “America, Are you okay with this (expletive)? Seriously? I’m so ashamed that we’ve lowered ourselves to even consider another term for this shameful loser. Even if you think it’s still defendable behavior. Your children are watching.”
Washington tweeted, “What is happening?! Is there an understudy who can step in and play the role of moderator?!”
Contributing: Courtney Subramanian and Jordan Culver
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