President Obama condemns Trump for comments about Muslims

President Barack Obama accused Donald Trump and many Republicans of betraying American values ​​and hindering the fight against extremism with indiscriminate comments about Muslims.

US President Barack Obama. Photo: Reuters.

Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate, on June 13 gave a long speech after the terrible shooting in Orlando, Florida, which killed 49 innocent people. He called for stopping the acceptance of immigrants from countries with a "history of terrorism" against the US and "better control" of immigrants by law if elected.

US President Barack Obama warned in a speech yesterday at the Treasury Department about proposals to increase surveillance of Muslims in the US or establish religious tests to determine who can enter the US.

"If we abandon these values, we will not only make it easier for radicalization in America and around the world, but we will also betray the very things we are trying to protect: the pluralism and openness, the rule of law, civil liberties, the things that make America great and special," CNBC quoted Mr. Obama as saying.

According to President Obama, the terrorists will be the winners then and he will "not let that happen".

He noted that terrorist groups like the Islamic State (IS) want to spread the ideology of "Western hatred of Muslims" to recruit more fighters in the future. He warned that any action by the US that contributes to legitimizing that ideology is what they are waiting for.

President Obama also rejected criticism from Republicans for not using the phrase "radical Islamic terrorism" when referring to IS, calling it a political distraction.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, in a speech to supporters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, said the proposal from Trump further reinforced her view that he was temperamentally unfit to be president, Reuters reported.

She noted that Mr. Trump on June 13 in a television interview also implied that Mr. Obama was responsible for the Orlando shooting. “I have to ask, will responsible Republican leaders stand up to their presidential candidate or support his accusations against the president?” she said.

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan yesterday distanced himself from the proposed Muslim ban, a sign of his displeasure with Trump's approach. "I don't think a Muslim ban is in the national interest," Ryan said.

According to VNE