Following his extraordinary tweets about the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump has issued a statement on his campaign website, renewing his call for a complete ban on Muslim immigration.
Trump criticized both President Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton for “disgracefully” refusing to say the magic words “Radical Islam”:
In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words ‘Radical Islam’. For that reason alone, he should step down. If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot say the two words ‘Radical Islam’ she should get out of this race for the Presidency.
He went on to describe the attack as something he had predicted in the past, and blamed it on weak leadership and political correctness:
If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country anymore. Because our leaders are weak, I said this was going to happen—and it is only going to get worse. I am trying to save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack. We can’t afford to be politically correct anymore.
He closed with a call to protect Americans “of all backgrounds and all beliefs from Radical Islamic Terrorism,” which he proposes to do by barring anyone holding the world’s second-most-common background and belief from entering the country.
We need to protect all Americans, of all backgrounds and all beliefs, from Radical Islamic Terrorism - which has no place in an open and tolerant society. Radical Islam advocates hate for women, gays, Jews, Christians and all Americans. I am going to be a President for all Americans, and I am going to protect and defend all Americans. We are going to make America safe again and great again for everyone.
The Orlando shooter, Omar Mateen, was a U.S. citizen born in Trump’s home state of New York. Trump plans to deliver “a major speech” about the attack on Monday.
