Trump’s ISIS Controversy: A Look Back at the 2016 Scandal

In 2016, then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sparked widespread outrage when he claimed that former US President Barack Obama was the founder of ISIS and Hillary Clinton was the co-founder. This shocking statement was made during a campaign rally in Sunrise, Florida, on August 10, 2016.

Trump’s remarks were met with fierce criticism from both sides of the political aisle, with many accusing him of spreading conspiracy theories and falsehoods. Despite the backlash, Trump doubled down on his claims, repeating them in subsequent interviews and rallies.

During the rally, Trump stated, “ISIS is honoring President Obama. He is the founder of ISIS. He’s the founder of ISIS. He’s the founder. He founded ISIS.” He also added that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee at the time, was the co-founder of the terrorist organization.

Trump’s campaign national co-chair, Sam Clovis, echoed these sentiments on MSNBC, stating that the Obama administration’s foreign policy had led to the creation of ISIS cells around the world.

The controversy surrounding Trump’s ISIS claims was further fueled by his appearance on CNBC, where he reiterated his statements, saying, “He was the founder of ISIS, absolutely… The way he removed our troops – you shouldn’t have gone in. I was against the war in Iraq. Totally against it”.

Experts and fact-checkers were quick to debunk Trump’s claims, pointing out that ISIS was formed in 2006, during the presidency of George W. Bush, and that Obama’s policies were aimed at combating the terrorist group.

The Obama administration’s efforts to counter ISIS included launching airstrikes against the group in Iraq and Syria, as well as providing military aid to Iraqi and Kurdish forces fighting against ISIS.

In response to Trump’s claims, the Obama administration released a statement, saying, “No serious person thinks that Barack Obama supports ISIS or founded the organization”.

The controversy surrounding Trump’s ISIS claims was widely covered in the media, with many outlets fact-checking and debunking his statements.

In the aftermath of the scandal, Trump’s campaign attempted to clarify his remarks, saying that he was referring to Obama’s policies, rather than literally founding the organization. However, the damage had already been done, and the controversy continued to dog Trump’s campaign throughout the 2016 election.

In conclusion, Trump’s 2016 claims that Obama founded ISIS and Hillary Clinton was the co-founder were widely debunked and discredited. The controversy surrounding these remarks highlighted the importance of fact-checking and accuracy in political discourse.

As the world continues to grapple with the threat of terrorism, it is essential that politicians and leaders prioritize truth and accuracy in their statements, rather than spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories.

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