Trump refuses to condemn QAnon conspiracy theorists and says they are 'very much against paedophilia'

President denies any knowledge of group FBI calls domestic terror threat

Donald Trump refused to condemn fringe conspiracy group QAnon as he claimed they are “very strongly against paedophilia.”

The president repeatedly denied knowing anything about the group, which has been identified by the FBI as a domestic terrorism threat, during his NBC town hall event.

QAnon was recently banned by Facebook for their false claims that a secret government cabal of sex traffickers and paedophiles are conspiring against Mr Trump.

“I don't know anything about QAnon,” said Mr Trump when asked by host Savannah Guthrie if he would denounce them.

Ms Guthrie replied that she had just told the president who they were.

"You told me, but what you told me doesn't necessarily make it fact. I hate to say that,” he said.

"I know nothing about it, I do know they are very much against paedophilia, they fight it very hard.”

Mr Trump then ripped into the left-wing group Antifa for violent scenes around the US during racial justice protests over the summer.

“I'll tell what you I do know about, I know about Antifa and the radical left and how violent and vicious they are, and I know how they're burning down cities run by Democrats.,” said Mr Trump.

Ms Guthrie pressed the president and insisted he did in fact know who she was talking about.

“Let me just tell you what I do hear about, it is they are very strongly against pedophilia and I agree with that. I do agree with that very strongly.”

Ms Guthrie finished by asking the president if he actually believed there is a satanic cult run by Democrats.

“I don’t know that,” he replied.

It was the second time Mr Trump has declined to condemn QAnon.

On 19 August he was asked about the group during a White House press conference and again claimed not to know anything about them.

However, he added: "I don't know much about the movement other than I understand they like me very much, which I appreciate.

“I have heard that it's gaining in popularity.” Then, referring to ongoing violence in cities including Portland, Oregon, he said: "I've heard these are people that love our country and they just don't like seeing it."