Obama slams Trump: ‘There’s no magic in the phrase radical Islam’
President Barack Obama said Tuesday that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is kidding himself if he thinks using the phrase “radical Islam” can defeat terrorists.
Obama spoke following a meeting with the National Security Council that had been scheduled prior to the mass shooting in Orlando that left 49 dead on Sunday. He highlighted recent counterterrorism victories and steps the administration is taking to target extremist organizations, but dedicated nearly half his remarks to blasting Trump’s response to the recent attack at a gay nightclub.
In a thinly-veiled response to Trump’s criticism of the administration’s campaign against the Islamic State and other radical groups, Obama dismissed the idea that using the phrase “radical Islam” was the key to eradicating terrorists.
“What exactly would using this label accomplish? What exactly would it change? Would it make ISIL less committed to trying to kill Americans? Would it bring in more allies? Is there a military strategy that is served by this?” said a clearly frustrated Obama. “The answer is none of the above. Calling a threat by a different name does not make it go away.”
“This is a political distraction.”
Trump and other Republicans have objected to the fact that Obama does not use the phrase “radical Islam” in reference to terrorist attacks perpetrated by Muslims that pledge allegiance to a radical ideology. The Republican candidate has suggested that “there is something going on” that would lead Obama to avoid using the words.
Trump responded later Tuesday to Obama’s speech, saying that Obama “claims to know our enemy, and yet he continues to prioritize our enemy over our allies, and for that matter, the American people,” according to the Associated Press.
The president said not using the phrase radical Islam has had no impact on his administration’s ability to pursue counterterrorism strategies.
“Not once has an adviser of mine said, ‘Man, if we really use that phrase, we’re gonna turn this whole thing around.’ Not once,” Obama said forcefully. “So if someone seriously thinks that we don’t know who we’re fighting, if there’s anyone out there who thinks we’re confused about who our enemies are, that would come as a surprise to the thousands of terrorists who we’ve taken off the battlefield.”
Obama said it would also come as a surprise to law enforcement officials who have spent countless hours disrupting terror plots and protecting Americans. That includes “politicians who tweet and appear on cable news shows.”
“There’s no magic in the phrase ‘radical Islam,’” Obama said. “It’s not a strategy. It’s a political talking point.”
This story was originally published June 14, 2016 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Obama slams Trump: ‘There’s no magic in the phrase radical Islam’."