President Trump’s Tweets Promote Anti-Muslim Bigotry

New York City—In response to President Trump retweeting three unverified videos allegedly portraying Muslims involved in acts of violence from a known source of extremist content, Human Rights First’s Susan Corke issued the following statement:

“Americans should be appalled that President Trump is using fear mongering to promote anti-Muslim bigotry, which could lead to violence. Once again, the President of the United States is willfully emboldening bigots at home and abroad. In so doing, he is cheered by Ku Klux Klan leaders, and criticized by our closest allies in Britain and elsewhere. This is not leadership; this is not in the spirit of America.”

The retweets were of content published by Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of Britain First, an anti-Muslim, far-right British political party known for distributing false and racist videos. Fransen was previously convicted of religiously aggravated harassment, and was recently charged with using “threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior.”