Trump: “I don’t want to energize the group, and I disavow the group.” (1/2)

After canceling and then rescheduling a meeting with The New York Times Tuesday , President-elect Donald Trump told its journalists and columnists that alt-right supporters are “not a group I want to energize.”

Trump: "It’s not a group I want to energize, and if they are energized, I want to look into it and find out why.” (2/2) — Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016

Trump on alt-right supporters: "It's not a group I want to energize. And if they are energized I want to look into it and find out why." — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016

“Boy you are really into” this issue, President-elect Trump replied when he was asked again about a conference in Washington, D.C., for the alt-right, a white nationalist movement that was little-known until the presidential race.

At a recent meeting, its founder spoke against Jews and quoted Nazi propaganda. Some attendees were seen giving the Nazi salute.


Trump gets asked again about the alt-right conference. 'Boy you are really into" this issue, Trump replies. Then disavows again. — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016

Asked point-blank about Nazi conference in DC over wknd: @realDonaldTrump tells @nytimes "of course" "I disavow and condemn them" — Julie Davis (@juliehdavis) November 22, 2016

Will the President-elect condemn Richard Spencer’s alt-right gathering? “I condemn them. I disavow, and I condemn,” says Trump. — Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016

Trump also defended his selection Stephen Bannon as White House chief strategist, a pick that has generated controversy given Bannon’s history of inciting racial division.

On Bannon:"If I thought he was a racist or alt-right or any of the things, the terms we could use, I wouldn't even think about hiring him." — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016

Trump on Bannon: "I think it's very hard on him. I think he's having a hard time with it. Because it's not him." — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016

"A lot of people are coming to his defense right now," Trump says of Bannon. Reince voices support too at conference table. — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) November 22, 2016

Trump is asked about concerns from minority groups about Breitbart News’s coverage under Steve Bannon. His reply: pic.twitter.com/FBqCGwQpBr — Michael M. Grynbaum (@grynbaum) November 22, 2016

Bannon was executive chairman of Breitbart News, a website seen as a voice of the alt-right.

Executive editor Dean Baquet had asked Trump during an on-the-record session whether the Republican felt like he did things to energize alt-right supporters, according to The New York Times.

Critics have said that Trump has not done enough to denouce or speak out against recent racial incidents across the country. Senate minority leader Harry Reid said earlier this month that Trump’s win “has emboldened the forces of hate and bigotry in America.”

Material from The New York Times was included in this report. Nicole Hernandez can be reached at nicole.hernandez@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @NRHSJax.