Just remember this is the same guy who told the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by." And they in fact did rise up on Jan 6.
That he was defending people at all associated with the unite the right protest that went all neo Nazi is crazy. Why bother trying to point out that there were “good” and “fine” people protesting the statue when we all know what was going on at that event? It minimizes what happened, and reduces the blame on the literal Nazis marching and driving into crowds.
It wasn’t a “hoax”, but it was choice editing. But if you look at the spirit and context, it’s effectively what happened.
“Choice editing” is another way to put it. Which is precisely what i was alluding to. It is a feature of the US system. Professional media including the so called papers of the record excel in it.
Imagine that Biden campaigned in 2000 extensively off a hoax that Trump called nazis fine people. This was well supported by professional media.