White House spokesman Josh Earnest said neither he nor President Obama are going to respond to Donald Trump’s criticism of Obama in the wake of the Orlando attacks because it’s important not to get distracted by something “so small” when you’re trying to protect the country.
During the daily White House briefing Monday, a reporter asked Earnest whether he had seen and had a reaction to Trump’s most recent criticism that Obama “doesn’t get it” when it comes to terrorism” and “doesn’t want to get it.”
“I haven’t spoken to the president about these comments,” Earnest said. “I can tell you when you are focused on something as big as helping the country respond to the worst mass shooting in our country’s history … and safeguarding the country … it’s important not to get distracted by things that are so small.”
Asked what he personally thought about Trump’s criticism, he said he “took my own advice and I’ve been focused on not getting distracted on something so small.”
Earnest also stressed again that the United States cannot be at war against any one religion, and said the Islamic State has perverted Islam and the “vast majority” of their victims are “innocent men and women who are Muslims.”
Earlier Monday, Trump told NBC’s “Today” show that “a lot of people” think President Obama may be aiding terrorism on Monday by choosing “not to get it.”
Trump on Sunday congratulated himself for his own previous warnings about homegrown terrorism. He also renewed his call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the nation, and then questioned the president’s motives in an interview Monday morning on Fox News.
“We’re led by a man who either is not tough, not smart or he’s got something else in mind,” he said. “People cannot believe President Obama is acting the way he acts and can’t even mention the words ‘radical Islamic terrorism.’ There’s something going on. It’s inconceivable.”
