Sunrise, FL – Donald Trump accused President Barack Obama on Wednesday of founding the Islamic State group that is wreaking havoc from the Middle East to European cities. A moment later, on another topic, he referred to the president by his full legal name: Barack Hussein Obama.
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“In many respects, you know, they honor President Obama,” Trump said during a raucous campaign rally outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “He is the founder of ISIS.”
He repeated the allegation three more times for emphasis.
The Republican presidential nominee in the past has accused his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, of founding the militant group. As he shifted the blame to Obama on Wednesday, he said “crooked Hillary Clinton” was actually the group’s co-founder.
Trump has long blamed Obama and his former secretary of state — Clinton — for pursuing Mideast policies that created a power vacuum in Iraq that was exploited by IS, another acronym for the group. He’s sharply criticized Obama for announcing he would pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, a decision that many Obama critics say created the kind of instability in which extremist groups like IS thrive.
The White House declined to comment on Trump’s accusation.
The Islamic State group began as Iraq’s local affiliate of al-Qaida, the group that attacked the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. The group carried out massive attacks against Iraq’s Shiite Muslim majority, fueling tensions with al-Qaida’s central leadership. The local group’s then-leader, Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in 2006 in a U.S. airstrike but is still seen as the Islamic State group’s founder.
Trump’s accusation — and his use of the president’s middle name, Hussein — echoed previous instances where he’s questioned Obama’s loyalties.
In June, when a shooter who claimed allegiance to IS killed 49 people in an Orlando, Florida, nightclub, Trump seemed to suggest Obama was sympathetic to the group when he said Obama “doesn’t get it, or he gets it better than anybody understands.” In the past, Trump has also falsely suggested Obama is a Muslim or was born in Kenya, where Obama’s father was from.
The president, a Christian, was born in Hawaii.
Trump lobbed the allegation midway through his rally at a sports arena, where riled-up supporters shouted obscenities about Clinton and joined in unison to shout “lock her up.” He railed against the fact that the Orlando shooter’s father, Seddique Mateen, was spotted in the crowd behind Clinton during a Monday rally in Florida, adding, “Of course he likes Hillary Clinton.”
Sitting behind Trump at his rally on Wednesday was former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., who resigned in 2006 after allegations he sent sexually suggestive messages to former House pages.
The media probably twisted his words as they usually do. But here is what I could say for certain. Bush did start it by going into Iraq. And I dont want to lay all the balme on Obama.But when Obama came into office ISIS was a small cell albeit making lots of trouble. Obama & Hilary pulled out of Iraq thereby leaving a vacuum. Then Hilary in her infinite wisdom decided that we must oust Gaddafi. She pushed Obama to agree and now it was Obama’s mess too. Now did Hilary have an after plan in Lybia? If no why not? Didn’t she see what happened in Iraq? Ok lets move on to Syria. After Gaddafi came the “moderate rebels” in Syria. Against Obama’s wishes, Hilary decided we must offer the peaceful protestors support. How did that go along? Dpes she really believe that “peaceful protestors” exist? So what do we have now instead? Isis in Lybia and Isis in Syria & Iraq. (as side note the few peaceful protestors are Al-Nusra fighters. Al Qeda became “peaceful somehow)
Bottom line, do you want to vote for someone who keeps on repeati ng the same mistakes over and over again? If yes vote Hilary.
didnt read the article but i love the headline!!
So Obama was born in Kenya, founded ISIS, and somehow managed to become president of the Unites States!!!
Really a genius.
There is so much for which to criticize our President.
This is not one of them. As the article states, ISIS was created before Mr. Obama became president.
Senator Cruz is right. “This man is a pathological liar. He doesn’t know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth. And in a pattern that I think is straight out of a psychology textbook, his response is to accuse everybody else of lying. He accuses everybody on that debate stage of lying. And it’s simply a mindless yell. Whatever he does, he accuses everyone else of doing.”
I waiting for October. TRump’s lies will bombard everyone’s sense of decency and morality. As Sen. Cruz also said: “The man is utterly amoral. Morality does not exist for him.”
I’m waiting for October.
Trump is a demagogue! He has joined the group that includes Hitler, Mussolini and Franco yemach sh’mom. These leaders delighted their supporters with outlandish tales and visions, usually accusing their opponents and targets of things that actually apply to them, they gained power (usually through rigged elections) and led their country to catastrophe or the Dark Ages.
If you actually review Trump’s style and content you find he mostly rambles incoherently. When challenged he adopts a bunker mentality. How on earth would such a person behave as president during a serious crisis?
Well, I can tell where the AP’s loyalties lie.
If at this point people can’t see through this bafoon then they’re in the same category.
Well Obama might not have created it but it definitely flourished under his leadership.
He said not to pull out of all these hostile countries but Obama thought that he knew better and didn’t listen (not that he ever does)
Can you imagine Mr. thin-skinned as president – Heaven forbid.
Netanyahu will just look at him the wrong way- and Israel can say good-bye to getting weapons from the U.S., or the U.S. backing Israel at the U.N.
That’s why he loves Putin now – Putin praises him, so he loves him.
Och n’ vay, if Trump becomes president !
Listening to the clip on radio Trump clearly says at least 3 times “Obama founded ISIS”. He and his followers must believe this nonsense because the crowd roared it’s approval. Clearly he and his followers have little knowledge of recent world history.