Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said Monday that Donald Trump is responsible for Hillary Clinton’s tougher rhetoric on terrorism, specifically her labeling Sunday’s attack in Orlando “radical Islamism.”
Fox News host Greta Van Susteren had asked the Trump supporter if the former secretary of state’s was taking a harsher stance to fighting the Islamic State than that of President Obama. Clinton’s rhetoric on terrorism has recently evolved, from saying the U.S. should “contain” the Islamic State to now calling to “defeat” the group.
“That’s a new thing, I think from former Secretary Clinton. It’s also new for her to say the words ‘Islamic terrorism.’ That was clearly by the strength of Donald Trump’s arguments — it’s indefensible not to use those words. It’s amazing that we see the kind of reluctance that we have to actually identify the threat we face,” Sessions said.
The Senate Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest chairman defended Trump’s previous calls to implement a temporary ban on Muslim refugees until the connection between the religion and Islamic State can be determined.
“[T]he president may prohibit the entry into the United States — any person or class of person he believes is a detriment to the United States,” Sessions said. “So I think he would clearly have that power and it’s time to really use it to be more effectively protective.”
