In the midst of the tragedy that followed the mass shooting at an Orlando gay nightclub over the weekend, Donald Trump found an opportunity to skew the issue in his favor and shift the limelight.
The Orlando shooter has been identified as Omar Mateen, a U.S. born ISIS supporter. After the news was released, Trump took to Twitter to boast about being “right” about “radical Islamic terrorism” and took a few jabs at President Obama’s handling of the situation.
Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don’t want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
Is President Obama going to finally mention the words radical Islamic terrorism? If he doesn’t he should immediately resign in disgrace!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
What has happened in Orlando is just the beginning. Our leadership is weak and ineffective. I called it and asked for the ban. Must be tough
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
Many have criticized the GOP presidential candidate for his insensitivity.
Once again, Donald, you have shown why you cannot lead us. 50 people are dead, and you bask in congratulations. https://t.co/pUN7ceAff7
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 12, 2016
.@realDonaldTrump You’re congratulating yourself because 50 people are dead this morning in a horrific tragedy?
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) June 12, 2016
Trump is truly an awful person. https://t.co/vQp3CQ9Nmv
— John Legend (@johnlegend) June 12, 2016
But the controversial businessman didn’t stop there. In an interview with Fox News Monday morning (June 13) Trump reportedly suggested President Obama was involved in the Orlando shooting and sympathetic to radical Islamic activities.
“Look, we’re led by a man that either is not tough, not smart, or he’s got something else in mind,” Trump says. ” And the something else in mind–you know, people can’t believe it. People cannot, they cannot believe that President Obama is acting the way he acts and can’t even mention the words ‘radical Islamic terrorism.’ There’s something going on. It’s inconceivable. There’s something going on.”
This is not the first time Trump has brought the president’s religion and national loyalties into question. A few years ago, Trump was one of the loudest voices calling for Obama to release his birth certificate and prove he was born in the United States. Obama eventually released his birth certificate for the public and disproved Trump’s accusations, however this issue still circulated conversations of criticism about the president.
Despite judgment, Trump maintains his “I told you so” attitude.
“I’m getting thousands of letters and tweets that I was right about the whole situation,” he says. “I mean, I’ve been right about a lot of things, frankly…I was right about many, many things.”