Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both gave speeches on the day following the deadly shooting in Orlando, Fla., expanding on their different visions of how they would combat future deadly attacks.
Trump took a hard-lined and combative approach, renewing his call for a policy to ban all Muslims from entering the United States in a speech that focused on terrorism and national security.
The Orlando nightclub shooter, Omar Mateen, was born in the United States, but his parents emigrated from Afghanistan.
“The immigration laws of the United States give the President the power to suspend entry into the country of any class of persons that the President deems detrimental to the interests or security of the United States, as he deems appropriate,” Trump said.
“When I am elected, I will suspend immigration from areas of the world when there is a proven history of terrorism against the United States, Europe or our allies, until we understand how to end these threats.”
Trump said he would carry out a full security assessment and develop a new immigration policy “that serves the interests and values of America.”
The presumptive Republican nominee took aim at Obama and Clinton, knocking them for not using the term “radical Islamic” terrorist, and then took credit when Clinton used the term on Monday.
He also took aim at Clinton’s proposals to increase gun regulation and let in more Syrian refugees.
“The Obama Administration, with the support of Hillary Clinton and others, has also damaged our security by restraining our intelligence-gathering and failing to support law enforcement,” Trump said. “They have put political correctness above common sense, above your safety, and above all else.
“I refuse to be politically correct,” he said.
Hillary Clinton took a more measured approach that hinged more on policy than on Trump—including a three-pronged counter-terrorism plan. The plan includes dismantling terror networks, fortifying U.S. defenses by supporting first responders, and disrupting terrorists’ efforts of recruitment and radicalization.
She also talked about adding more security to prevent “lone-wolf” attacks and adapting to new technology faster than potential threats.
“We have to be just as adaptable and versatile as our enemies,” Clinton said in her national security speech in Cleveland on Monday. “As president, I will make identifying and stopping lone wolves a top priority.
“That’s why I have proposed an intelligence surge to bolster our capabilities across the board with appropriate safeguards here at home,” Clinton said.
The presumptive Democratic nominee described the terrorist’s thoughts that led to the violence as a “virus.”
“The Orlando terrorist may be dead, but the virus that poisoned his mind remains very much alive,” she said. “And we must attack it with clear eyes, steady hands, unwavering determination, and pride in our country and our values.”
Clinton also took shots at Trump, warning the audience of the dangers that can arise from anti-Muslim rhetoric.
“Inflammatory anti-Muslim rhetoric and threatening to ban the families and friends of Muslim Americans as well as millions of Muslim business people and tourists from entering our country hurts the vast majority of Muslims who love freedom and hate terror. So does saying that we have to start special surveillance on our fellow Americans because of their religion,” said Clinton.
The speech was marked with a call for unity and bi-partisan agreement about the best way to combat terrorism.
“It is time to get back to the spirit of those days, the spirit of 9/12,” Clinton said. “Let’s make sure we keep looking to the best of our country, to the best within each of us. Democratic and Republican residents have risen to the occasion in the face of tragedy. That is what we are called to do, my friends, and I am so confident and optimistic that is exactly what we will do.”
Friends Read Free