Snopes.com has confirmed that former President Donald Trump did not call neo-Nazis "very fine people" during the Charlottesville protests in August 2017, despite countless media reports to the contrary over the years.

The confirmation of Trump's innocence on the subject comes just days before President Joe Biden and his predecessor meet for their first debate of the 2024 election season on June 27, as Breitbart reports.

Snopes, a prominent fact-checking website, recently -- and arguably belatedly -- debunked a longstanding claim about Donald Trump. The website confirmed that Trump did not refer to neo-Nazis and white supremacists as "very fine people" during the Charlottesville riots.

This clarification was issued nearly seven years after the original incident in Charlottesville. The false claim was notably central to Joe Biden's 2020 election campaign. Biden had launched his campaign in April 2019, inspired in part by the claim that Trump called neo-Nazis "very fine people".

Snopes Examines Trump's Charlottesville Remarks

According to Snopes, Trump had indeed condemned the neo-Nazis and white supremacists present at the Charlottesville rally. His "very fine people" comment was instead directed at non-violent protesters on both sides of the debate regarding a Confederate statue.

Commentators Scott Adams and Steve Cortes had previously debunked what they referred to as the "very fine people" hoax. Despite this, Biden and various media outlets continued to use this narrative.

In August 2019, Breitbart News confronted Biden at the Iowa State Fair regarding his misquotation of Trump. Biden reacted angrily at that time, maintaining his claim.

Trump’s Words Revisited by Snopes

During the debates surrounding the 2020 vice presidential election and Trump’s second impeachment trial, the "very fine people" hoax was publicly debunked. Even then, Biden continued using this claim during his presidency.

As Biden faces a challenging re-election campaign, Snopes.com published its fact-check post on June 20 of this year. The site rated the claim that Trump called neo-Nazis and white supremacists "very fine people" as "false".

Snopes' analysis found that Trump specifically condemned neo-Nazis and white nationalists. The phrase "very fine people" was used in reference to non-violent protesters regarding the Confederate statue issue.

Detailed Findings Supported by Transcript

To provide transparency, Snopes included a transcript of Trump’s full remarks from the event. This allows readers to make their own judgments based on the entire context.

An "editor’s note" on Snopes indicated that the fact check focused on confirming what Trump actually said, rather than judging the truth of his statements.

The New York Times also reported that non-violent, non-racist supporters of the Confederate statue were present at the Charlottesville rally.

Implications for the Upcoming Debate

The release of Snopes' fact-check comes just days before the highly anticipated debate between Biden and Trump on June 27, set to be hosted by CNN.

As the first debate of the 2024 election approaches, this clarification holds notable significance. The "very fine people" misquote has been a contentious topic in U.S. politics for years.

Biden's campaign in 2020 heavily relied on the narrative stemming from this misquote. Trump’s supporters have long argued that his comments were misrepresented.

Potential Impact on Election Campaigns

Snopes' confirmation of the inaccuracy in the "very fine people" claim may impact public perception as the election season intensifies. Both Biden and Trump prepare to address national audiences, likely referencing their stances and interpretations from past incidents.

The clarification by Snopes brings a moment of reflection on how facts and narratives are conveyed in political contexts. The upcoming debate might witness discussions on these revelations as part of broader campaign strategies.

In conclusion, Snopes.com's recent fact-check has confirmed that Trump did not refer to neo-Nazis as "very fine people" during the Charlottesville protests.

This comes at a critical time just before Biden and Trump’s first debate for the 2024 election, potentially shaping future campaign dialogues. The detailed examination included Trump's full remarks and highlighted the importance of accurate representation in political narratives.