Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) condemned President Trump on Wednesday over his remarks on the QAnon conspiracy theory after the president offered praise to his supporters.
Bush, who ran primarily against Trump in the 2016 Republican presidency, asked the question why the president did not punish supporters of QAnon’s conspiracy theory.
“Why should not the president in the world kick the butts of Q’anon supporters? Nut jobs, [racists], haters have no place in any of the Parties, ‘Bush tweeted.
Why in the world would the president not kick the butts of Q’anon supporters? Nut jobs, racists, haters have no place in either Party. https://t.co/uWIMg7clJz
– Jeb Bush (@JebBush) August 19, 2020
His remarks were in response to Trump’s remarks earlier Wednesday that he offered moderate praise to followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory. The president dismissed the core message of right-wing conspiracy theory, and instead noted that her followers support him.
Trump told reporters that he “does not know much about the movement other than I understand that they like me very much, which I appreciate.”
“These are people who do not like what is happening in places like Portland and places like Chicago and other cities and states,” Trump said, characterizing what conspiracy theory focused on. “I’ve heard that these are people who love our country and they just do not like to see it. I really know nothing about it, other than that they accept me. And they would also see problems in these areas. . go away. “
The QAnon conspiracy theory states that Trump and his allies are collaborating to expose and arrest an underground cabal of global elites who control the government and engage in child sexual matters. After a reporter tried to explain the conspiracy theory to Trump, he said he had heard ‘not that’. ‘
“But is that meant to be a bad thing or a good thing?” Trump replied. “If I can help save the world from problems, I’m ready to do it. I’m ready to put myself out there.”
Trump’s remarks Wednesday followed a briefing last week in which he dismissed a question over whether he supported the conspiracy theory.
The one-off theory has shifted more into the mainstream in recent months. One Republican candidate for Congress in a deep-red Georgia district, Marjorie Taylor Greene, who openly supports the theory, won her primary this month.
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