Following an attack in New York City on Tuesday that left eight people dead and 11 injured, President Donald Trump quickly called for the Department of Homeland Security to intensify its vetting procedures for immigrants.
Trump also linked the attack to the Islamic State, even though authorities had yet to determine that the suspect has any ties to the terrorist group. NBC News reported that law enforcement found a note from the suspect indicating he carried out the attack on behalf of the Islamic State, but that report surfaced after Trump published his tweet.
We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
I have just ordered Homeland Security to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program. Being politically correct is fine, but not for this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 1, 2017
Trump did offer his condolences to the victims of the attack, but only after linking the attack to the Islamic State.
My thoughts, condolences and prayers to the victims and families of the New York City terrorist attack. God and your country are with you!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017
Authorities have identified the suspect in the attack as Sayfullo Saipov, a 29-year-old man from Uzbekistan who immigrated to the U.S. legally. Uzbekistan is not one of the countries listed in the Trump administration’s travel ban targeting majority Muslim countries.
Saipov drove a rented truck down a bike path in lower Manhattan on Tuesday, mowing down people before exiting the vehicle. He then pulled out two handguns and yelled “God is great” in Arabic, according to law enforcement.
Says the guy who won’t release his tax returns.
Whoa, whoa, whoa - I thought we could only get attacked when we had a weak Democrat in office. This couldn’t possibly be true.
Oh, my bad - it’s still President Obama’s fault. I just have to wait for Fox News o come up with an excuse.
“Enough” he said. We’ll increase the increase vetting program. OK. But did he say the same kind of thing after the Las Vegas massacre? No way. We must keep our extreme fire weapons laws. We must keep encouraging the the NRA. We must keep the weapons industry healthy and growing. This is a third-world mentality besides being weak, cowardly, and stupid. Mr. President, members of the house and senate, you are all cowards and hypocrites.
But…but…“thoughts and prayers” are all we need after domestic terror incidents, as long as they involve guns. I guess the rules are different if these incidents involve “foreigners.”
And shouldn’t we wait to make decisions? You know, “now is not the time to discuss this” and "let’s not politicize this tragedy:?
“It is premature to discuss policy before we know all the facts” - Sarah Huckabee Sanders, post Las Vegas massacre, Oct. 2, 2017