Recent violence seen in US cities this summer is a “left-wing” problem, US president Donald Trump has claimed.
Protests have been held in parts of the country – notably following the deaths of Jacob Blake and George Floyd – and Mr Trump was asked if he would condemn white supremacist and militia groups that have showed up at some protests.
Debate moderator Chris Wallace specifically mentioned Kenosha, Wisconsin, where a white teenager was charged with killing two protesters during demonstrations over the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man.
Mr Trump has repeatedly blamed “antifa”, which stands for the anti-fascist movement, for the violence, and said: “Almost everything I see is from the left wing, not from the right wing”.
“I’m willing to do anything. I want to see peace,” Mr Trump said. “What do you want to call them? Give me a name. Who do you want me to condemn?”
“Proud Boys”, Mr Biden replied, referencing a far-right extremist group that has shown up at protests in the Pacific Northwest.
The male-only group of neo-fascists describes themselves as “western chauvinists,” and they have been known to incite street violence.
“Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” Mr Trump said.
“But I’ll tell you what, I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left because this is not a right-wing problem.”
Mr Trump has tried to tie incidents of violence that have accompanied largely peaceful protests to Mr Biden and the Democrats, running on a “law and order” message that warns people will not be safe under a Democratic president.
Proud Boys leaders and supporters later celebrated the president’s words on social media.
A channel on Telegram, an instant messaging service, with more than 5,000 of the group’s members posted “Stand Back” and “Stand By” above and below the group’s logo.
Mr Biden has said he decided to run for president after Mr Trump said there were “very fine people” on both sides of a 2017 protest led by white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, where a counter-protester was killed.
Mr Trump said his opponent was afraid to say the words “law and order” and pressed him to give examples of law enforcement groups that back his campaign.
Mr Biden did not name any, but said he is in favour of “law and order with justice, where people get treated fairly”.
