White supremacists saw Donald Trump finally disavow former KKK leader David Duke earlier this week, but they don't believe his heart was really in it.
On Stormfront, a website described on its homepage as “a community of racial realists and idealists,” and also called a "major hate site" by the Southern Poverty Law Center, some anonymous forum members argued Trump's distancing of Duke was merely a ruse.
"Ha! He said that only because it's what they expected to hear. It was not genuine," wrote a poster named KDrebel. "Trump all but said, 'OK, WTF? You want me to disavow him? OK, there you go. Next.' It was not sincere."
A forum member named myjeepgrand87132 said Trump "seems pissed that they keep asking him that. It's almost like he said it to shut them up."
And another Stormfront member, named outright.gordonSMITH, said Duke was too popular for Trump to be unaware of him and what he stands for.
"Duke's videos are incredibly popular on the internet, so he has probably stumbled upon them," the poster said. "I believe Trump does know about his videos and work, but wouldn't say it."
Trump caused a firestorm of criticism for not immediately disavowing Duke, most recently from House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), who said the GOP's presidential nominee ought to "reject any group or cause that is built on bigotry." Those words followed rebukes from other Republicans and conservatives, some of whom have vowed never to vote for Trump even if he does become the nominee.
SPLC senior fellow Mark Potok noted that some white nationalists have begun to refer to Trump as "our glorious leader," and are dedicated to getting him elected.
"What's really interesting is that white supremacists still see Trump as their hero, even if he disavows them," Potok said earlier this week in an interview with The Huffington Post. "Trump was applauded for saying that he is not angry, but that he understands their anger. That's all these guys needed to hear."
Other forum members on Stormfront believe Trump made a tactical error when he disavowed Duke: one that could cost him the general election.
"The mistake here is caving to the leftists' insane demands on ... basically anything at all," wrote a poster named McDonaldsGuy. "If you do it once, they will keep hitting the same point over and over and over, demanding ever more. You have opened up a weak spot and they will target it now unless you take it away."
"Hopefully he skates by Super Tuesday, and dominates the rest of the way and everyone forgets but he just gave Hillary a TON of ammo," he added.
A forum member named REDPILLGUY agreed.
"It was a mistake and the media is going to have a field day," the poster wrote. "He really isn't being as strategic as he needs to be. You can say what you want but this is not going to move his poll numbers the right direction. Please Donald don't blow this, we have them on the ropes."
Stormfront members mostly agreed on one thing, however -- that they admired Trump's penchant for saying anything to anyone, regardless of the consequences -- a sentiment common among Trump's supporters on the campaign trail as well.
"I don't care if he ultimately doesn't agree with Duke or Mussolini, what I hate is when they apologize and back down," wrote a member named tripleiron. "That crap is getting old and people are sick of that too."
Christina Wilkie contributed reporting.
Editor's note: Donald Trump is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist, birther and bully who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims -- 1.6 billion members of an entire religion -- from entering the U.S.
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