In the aftermath of the devastating events that unfolded on June 12, Donald Trump has exploited this national tragedy to further his campaign and take down his Democrat counterpart. Last Monday, he delivered a speech in response to the shooting in Orlando that took the lives of 49 people and injured 53. The language of his speech was riddled with scathing anti-Muslim sentiment and unfounded claims regarding Hillary Clinton. As the presumptive Republican nominee, Trump’s response was gravely irresponsible on his part. He used his political platform to merely point fingers and create scapegoats based upon untrue information, clearly using the Orlando shooting as an opportunity to re-assert his lead in the presidential race.
He attributed the cause of this act of terror to what he claims to be "America’s dysfunctional immigration policy.” He stated that the shooter, Omar Mateen, was born in “Afghan [sic],” when, in fact, Manteen was born in New York to Afghan parents, making Mateen an American-born citizen, not an immigrant. Trump followed this statement with a vow that if he were elected president, he would expand his temporary ban of Muslim immigration to include “areas of the world where there is a proven history of terrorism against the U.S, Europe, or allies.” He then went on to make an inflammatory statement that suggested that most refugees and immigrants entering the United States from the Middle East shared Mateen’s terrorist mindset. To back this assumption, Trump used blatant, out-of-context statistics and exaggerated facts. He stated, for example, that a “large number of Somali refugees in Minnesota have tried to join ISIS." Yes, it’s true that nine Somali refugees in Minnesota, according to MPR news, have indeed been arrested since 2014 for plans of joining ISIS. However, it is an embellishment to say that this is a “large number” considering the fact there are approximately 30,000 people with Somalian roots living in Minnesota. In other words, only 0.03 percent of this community was arrested for having alleged ties to ISIS.
Trump went on to audaciously accuse the Muslim community within America of concealing and harboring potential terrorists. “But the Muslims have to work with us…They know what’s going on," said Trump as he neared the end of his speech." They know that he was bad. They knew the people in San Bernardino were bad. But you know what? They didn’t turn them in, and we had death and destruction.” With this alarming statement, Trump only succeeds in targeting and casting suspicion upon every single member of the Muslim community in America—all 3.3 million of them. His fear-mongering rhetoric serves to divide the masses instead of offering a realistic approach at the wake of this tragedy.
Trump also attacked Clinton's stance on the matter in his speech. Clinton, in her response to the Orlando shooting, ultimately urged tightening gun control laws in America. Trump completely misconstrued her words and outlandishly claimed that Clinton was threatening to abolish the second amendment—the right to bear arms—altogether. Additionally, Trump bashed on Clinton's promise to allow more refugees into the country if she were president. Trump justified his verbal assault by stating that there is no screening in place for the immigrants who are currently entering American soil. However, according to CBS, the Department of Homeland Security initiates an extensive screening process, especially with Syrian refugees, which can take up to 18 to 24 months or longer and requires countless paperwork and background information.
Trump’s speech was overflowing with glaring fallacies. It’s sad to see that this already heartbreaking tragedy is being used as a footstool by a presidential candidate to get ahead of the race. He is taking advantage of America’s pain in order to potentially establish unconstitutional laws and sanctions. The politicization of this shooting is one thing, but to use it as an opportunity to exploit fears and besmirch another candidate for personal gain is truly tasteless and, frankly, very un-American.
