Trump Tells Proud Boys to 'Stand Back and Stand By'

The Debate Exchange

During the first 2020 presidential debate on September 29, held in Cleveland, Ohio, and moderated by Fox News anchor Chris Wallace, Trump was asked directly whether he would condemn white supremacists and militia groups. Wallace pressed Trump to tell them to “stand down and not add to the violence.” Biden interjected, saying, “Proud Boys.” Trump’s response — “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by” — landed like a thunderbolt. Rather than condemning the far-right group, Trump appeared to issue them a command, one that stopped short of any form of denunciation.

The Proud Boys React

Within minutes, the Proud Boys treated Trump’s words as a presidential endorsement. The group’s social media channels erupted with celebratory posts. Members created merchandise bearing the phrase “Stand Back and Stand By.” The organization’s chairman, Enrique Tarrio, posted “Standing by sir” on the social media platform Parler. The group, which the Southern Poverty Law Center designated as a hate group, had been involved in numerous violent confrontations at political rallies across the country. Trump’s words gave them what they had long sought: a signal from the president of the United States.

Bipartisan Criticism

The moment drew condemnation from across the political spectrum. Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina said Trump needed to “correct” his statement and unequivocally condemn white supremacists. Several other Republican lawmakers expressed discomfort. The Anti-Defamation League called on Trump to clearly denounce the Proud Boys. The following day, under intense pressure, Trump claimed he did not know who the Proud Boys were and said, “I condemn all white supremacists.” But the damage was done, and his initial response on the debate stage became one of the most remembered moments of the 2020 campaign.

Foreshadowing January 6

The “stand back and stand by” comment took on even darker significance after the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, in which multiple Proud Boys members played leading roles. Several Proud Boys leaders, including Tarrio, were later convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in planning and executing the breach of the Capitol. Prosecutors pointed to the months of signals from Trump, including the debate remark, as part of the ecosystem that emboldened far-right groups to take violent action in his name. The phrase “stand back and stand by” became one of the most frequently cited examples of Trump’s refusal to distance himself from extremist supporters.