White Nationalists Quote Nazi Propaganda, Salute Donald Trump with 'Heil Victory' at D.C. Conference

At an alt-right conference this weekend, white nationalists denounced Jews, quoted Nazi propaganda, and saluted Trump with 'heil victory' chants.

If it wasn't already clear that white nationalists loved Donald Trump before the election, it should be crystal clear now. People around the country are comparing Donald Trump to Hitler—however, while most are terrified by the comparison, many see it as something to celebrate. Just this weekend, Tila Tequila joined white supremacists at a National Policy Institute conference in Washington, D.C. to throw up the "Sieg Heil!" Nazi salute. At that same conference, the leader of the National Policy Institute enthusiastically saluted president-elect Trump and yelled, "Heil Trump! Heil our people! Heil victory!"

The conference was hosted by the National Policy Institute, a white supremacist group that claims to be "dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States."

The group is led by Richard Spencer, whose Twitter account was recently suspended. The Southern Poverty Law Center describes Spencer as "one of the country’s most successful young white nationalist leaders —a suit-and-tie version of the white supremacists of old, a kind of professional racist in khakis." After the election, Spencer told the Dallas Morning News that Trump's victory "is the first step, the first stage towards identity politics for white people." Judging by Spencer's actions this weekend, that seems like a serious possibility—while Spencer used to be dismissed as a fringe figure, he's encouraging his fellow white supremacists to embrace the establishment under Trump.

According to the New York Times, Spencer told the conference crowd of about 200 people (most of whom were young white males) that America belonged to white people, whom he described as "children of the sun." Thanks to Trump's victory, white people, who had previously marginalized, according to Spencer, are now "awakening to their own identity." He slammed Jewish people and proudly quoted Nazi propaganda in the original German language.

As Spencer wrapped up his speech, the crowd joined him in shouting, "Heil Trump! Heil the people! Heil victory!" The salutes are based on Hitler's salute of "Sieg Heil," which is German for "Hail victory."

Spencer coined the term "alt-right," which is a euphemism for the white supremacist, racist, anti-Semitic, fascist far-right movement.

Trump's new Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor, Steve Bannon, used to run the inflammatory right-wing website Breitbart, which he described as "the platform for the alt-right." Trump's selection of Bannon, who has a history of sexism, anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry, thrilled many white nationalists, including Spencer.

This election has brought unprecedented attention to white supremacists like Spencer and his supporters. "We've crossed the Rubicon in terms of recognition," Spencer said at the conference. 

Spencer slammed the "mainstream media" as the "Lügenpresse," which is a Nazi-era German term for "lying press." He blamed the media's criticism of Trump on Jewish people, and wondered "if these people are people at all, instead of soulless golem."

Again turning to Nazi rhetoric, Spencer praised the election of Trump as "the victory of will."

"To be white is to be a creator, an explorer, a conqueror," Spencer said of white people, whom he also described as "a race that travels forever on an upward path." Of America, Spencer said, "It is our creation, it is our inheritance, and it belongs to us."

Spencer denounced today's America as "a sick, corrupted society." In contrast, Spencer argued, "America was, until this last generation, a white country designed for ourselves and our posterity." 

Just this weekend, President Barack Obama urged Americans to "wait and see" how Trump does in office. Similarly, Hillary Clinton said in her concession speech, "We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead." However, as Seth Meyers said last week, Trump has already blown any chance he was given.

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