During a briefing following the horrifying Christchurch mosque massacres in New Zealand, President Trump was asked if white nationalism is a growing threat. “Not really,” he replied, suggesting white supremacists make up a very small number of American citizens.

Asked by a reporter if white nationalism is a growing threat, @POTUS replies, ”not really,” suggesting it’s just a small group of people. — Steve Herman (@W7VOA) March 15, 2019

The Daily Beast’s Sam Stein had this thought experiment. Imagine, if you possibly can, the fantastical scenario he lays out:

Imagine a world in which a Muslim terrorist group had executed an attack that killed 50 people and the response from the president was to say, in essence, this isn’t a big deal, “it’s just a small group of people" https://t.co/4XqVsbH1gI — Sam Stein (@samstein) March 15, 2019

Um … wait. Is Stein suggesting that Trump was referring to the victims as “just a small group of people”? Or was he saying white supremacists are a small group?

Maybe the quote in context might clear that up?

CNN’s Jim Acosta misquotes Trump to make him look as bad as possible. How Acosta quoted Trump: “I don't really, I think it’s a small group of people.” Full quote: “I don't really, I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems.” https://t.co/tLvZCdFt1u — Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) March 16, 2019

Expanded @POTUS response to white nationalism question: "I don’t really. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess. If you look what happened in New Zealand, perhaps that’s the case. I don’t know enough about it yet." — Steve Herman (@W7VOA) March 15, 2019

Are you imagining it yet?

Man, people have short memories. — Jerry Tark (@UnclesBunkles) March 16, 2019

Imagine a world where Sam Stein had a memory stronger than that of a goldfish. https://t.co/6sH7IkdKlZ — Jay Tee Ell Oh Ell (@jtLOL) March 16, 2019

This literally happened and continues to happen all the time. — J.S.R. Rayburn? (@jsrrayburn) March 16, 2019

Isn't this a common argument? That radical islam is just a small fringe, and doesn't represent the views of most? — St. Crazee™? 's Day (@Crazizzle) March 16, 2019

It amazes me that we have truly forgotten 9/11. — Mac Truck ? (@perpetnavigator) March 16, 2019

9/11 ring a bell? Fort Hood? Pulse Nightclub? Charlie Hebdo? Nice France? ISIS? Alqeida? — Red Eye Smirking Teen Robot (@Red_Eye_Robot) March 16, 2019

Three words: Pulse Night Club. — Dr. Sleuss (@DrSleuss) March 16, 2019

That's literally what people said after Pulse and San Bernardino https://t.co/GndK7tiCWW — Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) March 16, 2019

Literally every jihadi attack during Obama. FFS. — Chica'sBailBonds (@irinamoises) March 16, 2019

Imagine the Obama administration. — Sheila (@kitties2) March 16, 2019

You only have to go back between 2008-2016 to find that world, you dolt. — Rusty Weiss ??? (@rustyweiss74) March 15, 2019

Most Americans call that the Obama Presidency. — sick of PC (@SickofPC) March 16, 2019

DID YOU SLEEP THROUGH THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION? https://t.co/DUHFkkNSMq — David Reaboi (@davereaboi) March 15, 2019

Sam, are you really this ignorant or is you arrogance showing through? The Pulse nightclub attack was a carried out by a Muslim — he killed 49. The San Bernardino attack was carried out by two Muslims — they killed 14. Did you sleep through those attacks? — AWR Hawkins (@AWRHawkins) March 16, 2019

Holy cow, Sam. Have you been in a coma for the last 30 years or were you just hatched yesterday?! — @PresidentShemp (@presidentshemp) March 16, 2019

Imagine a world where stupid people weren't posting stupid crap like this on #twitter…. — GEORGIA DEPLORABLE (@Schnowzerz) March 16, 2019

Is that similar to calling ISIS the JV team? https://t.co/uMs75f9UZr — Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) March 15, 2019

One could even say "the JV team" — James Bennett (@TheRealJamesFB) March 16, 2019

Just the JV team… — James Houston (@Atticus1971) March 16, 2019

Pretty sure there's a list dating back to the 1960s if we really want to go there, while I'm no fan of terrorism regardless of who does it. I'm just gonna help the ratio a bit. — Aniel ?? ?? ??‍♂️ (@Xcthol) March 16, 2019

"Part and parcel of living in a big city" — Jozoken (@jozoken) March 16, 2019

That one, if you didn’t know, belongs to London Mayor Saddiq Khan, trying to explain Muslim extremist terror attacks plaguing his city.

Well, Sam, but he didn’t say that. But whatever. — Poorman77 (@Poorman771) March 16, 2019

Imagine a world where a so-called journalist has such poor reading comprehension that he believes the President said 50 inhumanely slaughtered people were the "small group", and not the "white nationalists" that the context of his statement was actually and clearly referring to. https://t.co/D1nuh6okZM — Michael (@Michael1Pet315) March 16, 2019

Imagine a world in which Sam Stein and other alleged journalists didn't snip phrases out of context, but, say, linked to the transcript of the full question and answer. But my imagination is strong enough for that. https://t.co/LG6zvOEpBO — Stephen St.Onge (@Saintonge235) March 16, 2019

Imagine a world where Journalists report news, facts and evidence accurately instead of intentionally twisting to push your own narrative, like you just did. Shameful https://t.co/ElmH0Jqfrg — mcbob (@mcbob) March 16, 2019

Your take on that comment is really twisted. That’s not what he said. — Cheryl B (@Cheryl707) March 16, 2019

How about you don't do exactly what the killer said you would do, and not be divisive? — Nickarama (@Nickarama1) March 16, 2019

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