Interior Secretary Doug Burgum faced repeated questioning regarding his stance on a white supremacist group that rallied in Washington, D.C., on the Fourth of July. During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Burgum declined multiple opportunities to directly condemn the neo-fascist organization Patriot Front, instead focusing on the principles of free speech in the United States.
When asked if the presence of hundreds of masked individuals carrying Confederate flags and chanting slogans like “Reclaim America” was cause for concern, Burgum initially pivoted to a discussion of the nation’s founding ideals and the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln. He stated that while he could not agree with what the group stands for, free speech is a foundational principle that makes American democracy complex. "But one of the foundational principles of the United States, which makes democracy messy, is free speech," Burgum said. "And there are plenty of things that I see that I might personally find offensive and reprehensible."
Pressed further by CNN’s Dana Bash on whether he would recommend President Donald Trump denounce the Patriot Front, Burgum drew a parallel to individuals who protest the president. Bash then reminded the secretary that the group espouses white nationalism and that their presence in the capital on a significant national holiday was noteworthy.
In response, Burgum invoked the concept of free speech again, comparing the Patriot Front to demonstrators who chant “Death to America” during their own protests. "This is part of free speech in America," he stated. "They can say it, we can object to it, but it is something that comes with free speech in America."