David Duke says he will be Donald Trump’s “most loyal advocate” if the former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard is elected to the Senate and the Republican nominee wins the White House.
{mosads}Duke, who is running as a Republican, also paraphrased Trump’s campaign slogan during a Louisiana Senate debate in New Orleans late Wednesday, according to Business Insider.
“Yeah, I’m the bad guy because I defend the people of this country that made our country great,” he said, loosely co-opting Trump’s “make America great again” mantra while responding to a jab from attorney Caroline Fayard (D).
Duke met Fayard and four other Louisiana Senate hopefuls during Wednesday night’s contest at historically black Dillard University.
Protests against the white supremacist’s inclusion in the debate turned violent when protesters tried forcing their way into the venue.
Duke attracted national headlines earlier this year after endorsing Trump, who ultimately disavowed the white nationalist’s support after widespread backlash.
Duke is one of 24 candidates vying to replace outgoing Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), who is stepping down following a prostitution scandal.