Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich responded to attacks in Nice, France, Thursday by recommending the U.S. deport Muslims who share many of the same beliefs at the Islamic State.
“We should frankly test every person here who is of a Muslim background and if they believe in Shariah, they should be deported,” Gingrich told Fox News host Sean Hannity late Thursday. “Shariah is incompatible with western civilization. Modern Muslims who have given up Shariah — glad to have them as citizens.”
Gingrich, one of a few remaining candidates for presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump’s running mate, also said the federal government should prosecute anyone who visits a website in favor of the Islamic State, al Qaeda or another terrorist group.
“It should be a felony and they should go to jail,” Gingrich said.
The GOP leader added if U.S. forces cannot destroy Internet-based threats, the government should resort to other methods, including “frankly just killing them.”
“I am sick and tired of being told the wealthiest, most powerful civilization in history, all of western civilization, is helpless in the face of a group of medieval barbarians,” Gingrich added. “This is the fault of western elites who lack the guts to do what is right and that starts with Barack Obama.”
Gingrich claimed by Friday morning, President Obama will blame truck regulations as the reason for the attack in Nice, a jab at the president’s criticism of gun laws after recent mass shootings.
