Eric Trump smiles for photo with Proud Boy host of neo-Nazi chat group: report
Eric Trump beams and gives a big thumbs up in a photo that ties him to a Proud Boys chat group where members enjoyed Neo-Nazi symbols and racial slurs, according to a new report.
Talking Points Memo released Thursday a deep-dive investigation into “OperationFlagDrop,” the Telegram channel whose members include U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez's QAnon-boosting challenger Tina Forte, convicted insurrectionist and Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, and far-right activist Dion Cini, who “laughed off” reporters’ questions about Nazi symbols shared in his group, according to the report.
“Neo Nazi content …LOL,” Cini replied. “The story is a illegitimate before pen goes to paper. I make flags I hang flags, that’s my story.”
In the photo, Cini wears a red “Make America Great Again” hat and stretches out a hand to rest on Eric Trump’s shoulder. Between them stands a man Talking Points Memo identifies as an “OperationFlagDrop” member who partook in a disturbing interaction in the group chat:
“Can we still say white power on Twitter? OperationFlagDrop asked.
“White Power,” Pot Roast replied.
Neither Eric nor former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign responded to Talking Point Memo’s request for comment.
The report details Cini’s years of Trump family support and includes a picture taken in the White House about a month before the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Cini was later interviewed by House Jan. 6 investigators who asked him about his ties to the Proud Boys and a series of boat rallies during the 2020 election season.
"Did you have as attendees at one of your rallies Either Eric Trump of Don. Jr.?" Investigators asked.
"I plead the Fifth."
The "OperationFlagDrop" administrator was more forthcoming in a 2021 interview with Insider about his penchant for waving Trump banners at baseball games.
“I’ve interacted with the Trump family multiple times,” Cini told Insider. “They know what I’m doing, and they like it.”
Read the full report here.