In string of tweets, Trump blasts ‘unfit’ Clinton for ‘unleashing ISIS’
Responding to speech by Democratic rival, GOP nominee blames her for failed Mideast wars, refusal to use term 'radical Islam'
Donald Trump took to his favored medium of Twitter during Hillary Clinton’s nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Thursday night, unleashing a series of tweets in which he lambasted his rival for not saying the words “radical Islam” and accusing her of destabilizing the Middle East.
“Our way of life is under threat by Radical Islam and Hillary Clinton cannot even bring herself to say the words,” Trump wrote, picking up a frequent Republican criticism of Democrats’ approach to fighting radicalism.
“Hillary’s refusal to mention Radical Islam, as she pushes a 550% increase in refugees, is more proof that she is unfit to lead the country,” Trump said, adding a short time later that “Hillary’s wars in the Middle East have unleashed destruction, terrorism and ISIS across the world.”
Neither Clinton nor US President Barack Obama uses the phrase “radical Islam” because they say it is misleading — the ideology motivating terrorists does not reflect true Islam, they say. Republicans argue the failure to use the label has hampered the fight.
In her speech, Clinton said she will defeat the Islamic State group and work to fight radicalization of young people in the US and abroad.
She also questioned whether Trump has the temperament to be commander in chief, saying he “can’t even handle the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign.”
Clinton said Trump loses his cool at the “slightest provocation” — when he’s had tough questions from reporters, when he’s challenged in a debate or when he sees a protester at a rally.
“A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons,” she said.