After a bomb exploded in the London tube Friday morning, President Donald Trump was quick to use the latest terror attack in a foreign country to promote his travel ban at home in the U.S.
“Another attack in London by a loser terrorist.These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive! The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!” he tweeted.
Another attack in London by a loser terrorist.These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard. Must be proactive!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
As one of his first orders of business after entering the White House in January, Trump penned an executive order banning travel and refugee status for people from six predominantly Muslim nations. He argued the move was necessary for the United States to review and strengthen its vetting procedures for people traveling from countries like Syria, Libya and Somalia.
The ban ignited much controversy, prompting Trump to tone down the language in a redraft of the order. Still, it was blocked in multiple federal appeals court decisions before heading to the Supreme Court where it received a temporary green light to be enacted.
Following Friday’s explosion, Trump took to Twitter to condemn the “loser terrorist” behind the attack, making assumptions that the individual was likely associated with ISIS.
“We have made more progress in the last nine months against ISIS than the Obama Administration has made in 8 years.Must be proactive & nasty! Loser terrorists must be dealt with in a much tougher manner.The internet is their main recruitment tool which we must cut off & use better!” he said in a series of early-morning tweets.
We have made more progress in the last nine months against ISIS than the Obama Administration has made in 8 years.Must be proactive & nasty!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
Loser terrorists must be dealt with in a much tougher manner.The internet is their main recruitment tool which we must cut off & use better!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017
The explosion marked the fifth terrorist attack on Britain this year, and it isn’t the first time Trump has used a terrorist attack to promote his domestic policy agenda — in June Trump responded to the attack on London Bridge in a similar vein.
“We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!” he tweeted at the time.
A police spokesperson told CNN that Trump’s comments on Scotland Yard were “pure speculation” and “unhelpful,” and Trump’s shameless appeal for his controversial ban earned him some flack from British leaders on Friday.
“I never think it’s helpful for anybody to speculate on what is an ongoing investigation,” British Prime Minister Theresa May said, according to Huffington Post.
“I’ve simply been too busy this morning to look at Twitter,” Khan said when asked about Trump’s tweets in an interview aired on a British radio station. “I’m not going to go there. My priority today is to catch the individual or individuals responsible.”
Part 2: @MayorofLondon Sadiq Khan on @lbc with @mrjamesob criticises #Trump‘s tweets saying attacker(s) were known to security services: pic.twitter.com/RvoS7CXCuW
— Vincent McAviney (@Vinny_LBC) September 15, 2017
