Orlando shooting: Trump calls for Obama's resignation
Republican White House contender Donald Trump has called on President Barack Obama to resign for not using the term "radical Islamic terrorism" to describe the gay club massacre even as his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton backed redoubling of efforts to defeat terror groups.
"Is President Obama going to finally mention the words radical Islamic terrorism? If he doesn't he should immediately resign in disgrace!" Trump said in a series of tweets as he slammed the US President for not blaming radical Islam for the terror attack by the lone Afghan-origin gunman Omar Mateen at a public bar in Orlando that claimed at least 50 lives.
In another tweet, Trump claimed that Mateen shouted "Allah hu Akbar!" as he slaughtered clubgoers. The police, however, is yet to corroborate this claim of Trump.
The 69-year-old presumptive Republican presidential nominee also stated that a second man was arrested in Los Angeles with rifles near the Gay parade.
The police, however, has so far ruled out any linkage with the Orlando shooting, which is the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
In a separate statement, Trump also asked Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to get out of the race.
"In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words 'Radical Islam'. For that reason alone, he should step down. If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot say the two words 'Radical Islam' she should get out of this race for the Presidency," Trump demanded.
"Last night our nation was attacked by a radical Islamic terrorist. It was the worst terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11 and the second of its kind in 6 months. My deepest sympathy and support goes out to the victims, the wounded and their families," he said.
"If we do not get tough and smart real fast, we are not going to have a country anymore. Because our leaders are weak, I said this was going to happen and it is only going to get worse. I am trying to save lives and prevent the next terrorist attack. We can't afford to be politically correct anymore," Trump said.
Meanwhile, Clinton, 68, described the Orlando mass shooting as an act of terror and called for redoubling of efforts to defeat international terror groups.
ISIS has claimed credit for the mass shooting carried out by 29-year-old Mateen, the New York-born American citizen whose parents are from Afghanistan.
"This was an act of terror. Law enforcement and intelligence agencies are hard at work and we will learn more in the hours and days ahead. For now, we can say for certain that we need to redouble our efforts to defend our country from threats at home and abroad," Clinton said.
"That means defeating international terror groups, working with allies and partners to go after them wherever they are, countering their attempts to recruit people here and everywhere, and hardening our defences at home," she said.
"It also means refusing to be intimidated and staying true to our values," Clinton said in a statement.
Describing Mateen as a terrorist, Trump said the shooter was the son of an immigrant from Afghanistan who openly published his support for the Afghanistani Taliban and even tried to run for President of Afghanistan.
According to Pew, 99 per cent of people in Afghanistan support oppressive Sharia Law.
"We admit more than 100,000 lifetime migrants from the Middle East each year. Since 9/11, hundreds of migrants and their children have been implicated in terrorism in the United States," he said.
"Hillary Clinton wants to dramatically increase admissions from the Middle East, bringing in many hundreds of thousands during a first term -- and we will have no way to screen them, pay for them, or prevent the second generation from radicalising," Trump alleged.
"We need to protect all Americans, of all backgrounds and all beliefs, from Radical Islamic Terrorism -- which has no place in an open and tolerant society. Radical Islam advocates hate for women, gays, Jews, Christians and all Americans. I am going to be a President for all Americans, and I am going to protect and defend all Americans. We are going to make America safe again and great again for everyone," Trump said.
Describing the Orlando shooting as "an act of hate", Clinton said, "the gunman attacked an LGBT nightclub during Pride Month."
"To the LGBT community: please know that you have millions of allies across our country. I am one of them. We will keep fighting for your right to live freely, openly and without fear. Hate has absolutely no place in America," she said.
Clinton said the horrific incidents reflect the need to have strict gun control laws."We need to keep guns like the ones used last night out of the hands of terrorists or other violent criminals. This is the deadliest mass shooting in the history of the United States and it reminds us once more that weapons of war have no place on our streets," she said.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, a Democratic party presidential aspirant, said all Americans are horrified, disgusted and saddened by the horrific atrocity in Orlando.
"At this point we do not know whether this was an act of terrorism, a terrible hate crime against gay people or the act of a very sick person, but we extend our heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and loved ones and our thoughts are with the injured and the entire Orlando LGBTQ community," he said in a statement.
