Donald Trump, known for distancing himself from controversial figures and movements, has claimed ignorance on various historical and political matters, including Adolf Hitler’s rhetoric, David Duke’s endorsement, QAnon, and the Proud Boys.
Despite participating in Holocaust memorial events and growing up in a city with a large Jewish population, Trump has repeatedly stated he has no knowledge of Hitler’s speeches or Mein Kampf.
“I never knew that Hitler said it,” Trump said.
“I know nothing about Hitler,” he added.
“I have no idea what Hitler said other than (what) I’ve seen on the news. And that’s a very, entirely different thing than what I’m saying.”
His use of rhetoric similar to Hitler’s has drawn criticism, with Trump insisting his message is different and not racially motivated.
This pattern of claimed ignorance has raised questions about his understanding of historical and political events, a concern noted by historian Julian Zelizer.
Trump has previously denied knowledge of a prominent white supremacist, the QAnon movement, and the Proud Boys militia group.
“We don’t need a historian as president, but certainly you want a president with a feel for some of the basic parts of American history, of world history,” Princeton University professor Zelizer said.
