Donald Trump caused an immediate uproar of controversy Sunday when he declined three times to "disavoy" well known white supremacist and former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke, saying he didn't know who Duke was.
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"Voting for these people, voting against Donald Trump at this point, is really treason to your heritage," Duke said on the "David Duke Radio Program."
Trump's response comes just three days before Super Tuesday, also known as SEC Tuesday because of the large number of Southern states that will vote that day. Tapper repeatedly asked Trump about his knowledge of Duke, but Trump maintained that he does not know who Duke is.
In 2000, Trump cited Duke in a statement explaining why he had decided to end his brief involvement with a Reform Party presidential campaign.
"The Reform Party now includes a Klansman, Mr. Duke, a neo-Nazi, Mr. Buchanan and a communist, Ms. Fulani. This is not company I wish to keep," Trump said in a statement reported by The New York Times.
Sunday, Trump asserted that he didn't know who Duke is and offered no acknowledgement that Duke was affiliated with the KKK.
"I have to look at the group. I mean, I don't know what group you're talking about," Trump said. "You wouldn't want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about. I'd have to look. If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them and certainly I would disavow if I thought there was something wrong. You may have groups in there that are totally fine -- it would be very unfair. So give me a list of the groups and I'll let you know."
After Sunday's statements began to go viral on social media, Trump tweeted a clip from Friday in which he denounced Duke's support at a press conference.
"David Duke endorsed me? OK, all right. I disavow, OK?" he said in the clip.
On Monday, Trump said there were problems with his ear piece during the interview, and he couldn't hear the question.
Other Republican candidates took to Twitter to voice their disapproval.
Sean Spicer, chief strategist and communications director of the Republican National Committee, also responded on Sunday.
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders also weighed in on the social media platform. Hillary Clinton retweeted Sanders' post.
Trump's comments came just two days before Super Tuesday, when multiple states will hold primaries.
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