White nationalists march in Washington, DC, area during July 4 festivities

Donald Trump has faced condemnation for failing to forcefully reject white nationalists during his two terms as president.Members of the white nationalist group Patriot Front have orchestrated marches around the United States capital, many obscuring their faces with white fabric masks and sunglasses.On Saturday, videos spread across social media showing rows of men in khaki pants, khaki baseball caps and dark blue shirts taking escalators down to the Washington, DC, underground rail system and boarding metro cars.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US Congressman Randy Fine suggests Muslims should ‘be destroyed’list 2 of 3South Africa summons new US ambassador over ‘undiplomatic remarks’list 3 of 3How Canada’s Muslims face ‘perfect storm’ amid rising xenophobiaend of listThey were then filmed marching in cadence through areas like New Carrollton, Maryland, part of the capital’s metropolitan area. Others appeared in front of the US Capitol.Some of the marchers held US flags, drums and shields. A few waved Confederate flags, a banner some associate with Southern identity but others consider a sign of racist hate. The Confederacy attempted to secede from the US in 1861 in a bid to preserve slavery, thereby sparking the American Civil War.Members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front march on July 4, carrying US and Confederate flags [Mark Sherman/AP Photo]The demonstration coincided with the Fourth of July, the Independence Day holiday in the US. This year was a particularly poignant anniversary, marking 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence.The Patriot Front’s Telegram channel indicated that the group expected more than 400 white nationalists to participate in Saturday’s events. Throughout the day, it reposted videos of the marchers, some of whom chanted “Reclaim America” to the beat of a drum.The group’s website appealed to people “born to this nation of our European race” to assert their “right to cultural independence”.