Yes, that's right. Thanks for pointing that out. He literally issued them a command order, cleary letting everyone know he can order them to act, and they would follow him. I can't imagine for one second, that that was lost upon the Generals of the military. That's a possible call to ordering organized and illegal armed forces within the United States to act upon its citizens.Also, regardless of whether it was or was not a slip of the tongue, "stand down" or "stand back" are orders - implying that these groups are directly at the command of Trump.
I agree he's not directly involved with them, as in attending their parades and clubhouse meetings. Although, I am at the moment getting this image in my brain of a post-defeat Trump now marching at the front of them with a brown shirt and Nazi swastika armband. I think because it's so easy to envision, not that he'd actual do that. But he does admire them, as we all know.Now, personally, I don't believe that he is involved directly with these groups, but I certainly think that he knows that he benefits by ACTING as if they are at his command, with the implication to the general public that these people could be "ordered" by him at any time to threaten or harass you if you don't walk his line.
I do know that when we had the George Floyd protests here in the Twin Cities, we were seeing gangs of motorcyclists and outside white supremacist groups cruising up and down our streets. They are at the ready for Trump, to be sure. And he very much knows that. He can call on them, and in a heartbeat, they would act. He is afterall, a Warlord personality type, and they are definitely the ones who being at the early tribal stage of social development, would cluster right up behind him.
I think he actually did call upon them to show up at polling places in that debate last night. He urged them, is how he put it, to show up and monitor the voters activities to make sure there isn't any fraud going on. That is voter intimidation, and illegal. Yet, he told them to do just that last night.Essentially, he wants to enjoy the benefits of IMPLYING being at the command of violent, white supremacist militia groups, if such a move might make it more likely that some of his political opponents might feel less safe going out and casting their votes.
Then again, this is probably giving him too much credit.