Donald Trump has drawn criticism for using his Twitter account to share unconfirmed details of Saturday’s terror attack in London in an attempt to sway support for his plan for a Muslim travel ban in the US.
Using his personal Twitter account, which has over 31m followers, the president retweeted a report from right-wing news aggregator Drudge Report about possible casualty numbers at London Bridge.
“Fears of new terror attack after van ‘mows down 20 people’ on London Bridge…”
Fears of new terror attack after van 'mows down 20 people' on London Bridge…
— DRUDGE REPORT (@DRUDGE_REPORT) June 3, 2017
He then followed this up by calling for support for his travel ban, which has been twice by US federal judges for being unconstitutional and racist in nature.
“We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!”
We need to be smart, vigilant and tough. We need the courts to give us back our rights. We need the Travel Ban as an extra level of safety!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 3, 2017
He has since gone on to complain about “political correctness”, criticised the response of London Mayor Sadiq Khan in the face of terrorism, and tried to make a point about gun legislation.
Trump’s attempt to make political capital out of the suffering and fear of those in London draw swift condemnation online, where he was branded the “Opportunist in Chief”.
Opportunist-in-Chief speaks pic.twitter.com/IeQOHwQ4qB
— John Horgan (@Drjohnhorgan) June 3, 2017
For our morally vacant President, tragedy spells opportunity. https://t.co/3lzMitXyAB
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) June 3, 2017
In a single tweet, Trump…
1) Confirms it is a ban (illegal)
2) Is politicizing an ongoing incident https://t.co/pgn4rZAqQF— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) June 3, 2017
Very clever, Donald. I see what you did there. But it's still you, who threatens our rights, not the courts. https://t.co/VRzOMeSI4A
— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) June 4, 2017
London is under attack and this asshat is whining about his Muslim ban.
Remind me how this guy is lesser of evils? https://t.co/O4hFSSrXSD
— Jonathan Franks (@jonfranks) June 3, 2017
Nice of our closet ally to express his sympathy and support at a time like this. Instead he uses this to make a political point. Wanker. https://t.co/J9f0a34GlS
— Iain Dale (@IainDale) June 3, 2017
This piece of shit is not just an embarrassment to America and a stain on the presidency. He's an embarrassment to humankind. https://t.co/Dl5tMQMhMO
— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) June 3, 2017
Further proof you don't understand the world.
To the people of London, we apologize for this jackass and we stand with you side by side https://t.co/tJHFlndADg
— Montel Williams (@Montel_Williams) June 3, 2017
Previously, questions were raised about sharing intelligence with the Trump White House after the recent terror attack in Manchester after details and crime scene photographs were leaked to the US press while the investigation was ongoing.
