Former KKK leader says voting against Donald Trump is ‘treason to your heritage’

David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard has thrown his support behind Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump by saying a vote cast for anyone but the real estate mogul is “treason to your heritage.”

As BuzzFeed first reported, Duke took to his radio show Wednesday to urge his listeners to vote for Trump, saying he hopes Trump “does everything we hope he will do.”

“Voting for these people, voting against Donald Trump at this point is really treason to your heritage,” Duke said. “I’m not saying I endorse everything about Trump, in fact I haven’t formally endorsed him. But I do support his candidacy, and I support voting for him as a strategic action. I hope he does everything we hope he will do.”

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Trump’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination is building momentum that may sweep away challenges by his closest opponents Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, following his win in the Nevada caucuses earlier this week, marking a third straight victory in state contests.

The white nationalist also encouraged his listeners to volunteer and campaign for Trump.

“Get off your rear end that’s getting fatter and fatter for many of you every day on your chairs,” Duke said. “When this show’s over, go out, call the Republican Party, but call Donald Trump’s headquarters. Volunteer.”

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Earlier on Wednesday, Trump won his first endorsements from sitting members of Congress, with Reps. Duncan Hunter of California and Chris Collins of New York announcing they are backing him for the Republican presidential nomination.

–with a file from The Associated Press