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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Mikey Smith

Donald Trump supporter wearing 'Proud Boys' hat makes 'white power' gesture behind President at rally

A Donald Trump supporter repeatedly made an 'OK' hand gesture - which has been adopted by white supremacist groups, during a speech in Florida.

The man also appeared to wear a hat sporting the logo of the 'Proud Boys' a far-right group which supports President Trump.

He was standing directly behind the President as he gave a nearly 90 minute address at The Village retirement community in Florida.

And he made the gesture prominently when President Trump said in his speech: "We have made America proud again."

Trump drew criticism last month when he was asked to disavow the Proud Boys during the first TV Presidential debate.

Instead, the President's message to the group was "stand back and stand by."

Within minutes, members of the Proud Boys - founded by Brit Gavin McInnes - embraced his comments posting calling his words “historic.”

On the right-wing social media site Parler, the group’s leader Joe Biggs said he took Trump to be issuing a rallying cry.

“Proud Boys shout out at Presidential debate,” he wrote before adding, “President Trump told the Proud Boys to stand by because someone needs to deal with Antifa. Well, sir. We’re ready.”

The 'OK' gesture was originally linked to racism as part of a prank by users of the message board 4Chan.

Instead of standing for "OK", it stands for "WP" - for 'white power' or 'white pride'.

But, according to the Anti-Defamation league it has grown into a "sincere expression of white supremacy", and adopted by far-right groups.

(Getty Images)

Earlier in the rally, President Trump attacked Joe Biden's running mate Kamala Harris for both her views and for being a woman.

He said: "We're not going to have a socialist president. Especially a female socialist president.

"We're not going to have it. We're not going to put up with it. It's not going to happen."

The President said: "Kamala will not be your first female President.

She will not be your first female president.

"It's not the way it's supposed to be. We're not supposed to have a socialist."

Trump has repeatedly complained at his rallies that he struggles to get support from "suburban women."

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