In a recent development, the left-leaning fact-checking website Snopes has confirmed that former President Trump never referred to neo-Nazis as "very fine people" during his press conference following the Charlottesville "Unite the Right" rally in 2017. This acknowledgment has dealt a blow to critics who have long accused Trump of equating the far-right group with counterprotesters during the event.

One of the chief critics of Trump's alleged remarks was President Biden, who cited this incident as a significant reason for launching his 2020 campaign. However, Snopes has now rated this claim as "False," pointing out that while Trump did mention that there were "very fine people on both sides," he specifically stated that he was not referring to neo-Nazis or white supremacists and urged for their condemnation.

The fact-checker's ruling aligns with the arguments made by Trump's camp for years, backed by transcript and video evidence, that his comments were taken out of context. Snopes also highlights that the false claim about Trump's remarks spread rapidly among the left, eventually becoming a cornerstone of Biden's election campaign. Notably, Biden's 2020 campaign announcement video prominently featured the words "Charlottesville, Virginia," as he accused Trump of assigning moral equivalence between hate groups and those opposing them.

Snopes' fact check challenges the narrative that has been perpetuated regarding Trump's alleged remarks, stripping away key ammunition from Biden's arsenal just days before the highly anticipated debate between the two politicians. The scheduled debate, set to take place this week in Atlanta and hosted by CNN, holds significant importance as it marks the first face-to-face encounter between Biden and Trump in this election cycle.

While Biden has retreated to Camp David for a secluded preparation weekend ahead of the debate, Trump continues his campaign trail activities before making his way to Atlanta later this week. The debate is expected to be a critical juncture in the election campaign, with both candidates aiming to sway undecided voters and solidify their stances on key issues.

As the Snopes fact check reshapes the understanding of Trump's statements in the aftermath of the Charlottesville rally, it remains to be seen how this development will impact the dynamics and tone of the upcoming debate between Biden and Trump.