Trump hits out at UK PM Theresa May after
far-right video tweets
Donald Trump has told UK Prime Minister Theresa
May to focus on "terrorism" in the UK after she
criticised his sharing of far-right videos.
"Don't focus on me, focus on the destructive
Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within
the United Kingdom," Mr Trump tweeted.
The US president had earlier retweeted three
inflammatory videos posted online by a British far-
right group.
Mrs May's spokesman said it was "wrong for the
president to have done this".
The US and the UK are close allies and often
described as having a "special relationship".
Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit the
Trump White House.
The videos shared by Mr Trump, who has more
than 40 million followers, were initially posted by
Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, a
group founded by former members of the far-right
British National Party (BNP).
Ms Fransen, 31, has been charged in the UK with
using "threatening, abusive or insulting words or
behaviour" over speeches she made at a rally in
Belfast.
Several leading UK politicians have criticised the
president for retweeting her posts, as has the
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who said it
was "deeply disturbing" that Mr Trump had "chosen
to amplify the voice of far-right extremists".
And it has led to renewed calls for Mr Trump's
planned state visit to the UK to be cancelled,
although Downing Street said on Wednesday that
the invitation still stood.
In hitting out at Mrs May, Mr Trump first tagged the
wrong Twitter account, sending his statement to a
different user with just six followers. He then
deleted the tweet and posted it again, this time
directing the message to the UK PM's official
account.
Trump wrong to share far-right videos - UK
PM
Anti-Muslim retweet fits a pattern
What the videos Trump shared actually show
An unnecessary controversy
By Anthony Zurcher, North America reporter
It's clear at this point that Donald Trump won't let a
perceived slight or criticism go unanswered - even
if it's from a supposed friend. Even if it's from the
leader of the president's closest international ally.
So shock isn't exactly the right word to describe the
reaction to Mr Trump's initially botched attempt to
tell Theresa May to, in effect, mind her own
business. This is just another example of the US
president's self-described "modern-day presidential"
use of social media, where Twitter is a cudgel for
score-settling no matter the diplomatic cost.
When Mr Trump assumed the presidency, one of
the first foreign dignitaries he received was Mrs
May, and it appeared they formed a quick bond -
briefly holding hands as they walked past the
White House Rose Garden . Those bonds will now
be tested in a spat over a few morning retweets of
inflammatory videos.
It's a wholly unnecessary controversy, but the
international consequences could be all too real.
What did Trump retweet?
The first video purportedly shows a "Muslim
migrant" attacking a young Dutch man on crutches.
However, the claim in this tweet appears to have
little substance.
A spokesperson from the Dutch Public Prosecution
Service told the BBC that the person arrested for
the attack "was born and raised in the Netherlands"
and was not a migrant.
The Dutch embassy in Washington DC confirmed
this on Twitter.
The second video retweeted by Mr Trump shows a
man smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary.
Read more about the videos
Why is Britain First big online?
This video was uploaded to YouTube in 2013. The
man in the clip says: "No-one but Allah will be
worshipped in the land of the Levant," which could
place him in Syria.
The third video originates from the riots that took
place in Egypt in 2013, and shows a man being
pushed from the top of a building in Alexandria. In
2015, those involved in the the incident were
prosecuted, and one man was executed.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on
Wednesday that Mrs May and other world leaders
knew that "these are real threats that we have to
talk about".
"Whether it's a real video, the threat is real," she
said.
What other reaction has there been?
Mr Trump's actions on Wednesday were criticised
by both Democrats and Republicans.
Republican Senator John McCain said he was
"surprised" at the president's tweets.
Meanwhile, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said that
Mrs May was "one of the great world leaders",
adding that he had "incredible love and respect for
her".
In the UK, many politicians voiced their concerns
about the videos that were shared.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said the
president had "endorsed the views of a vile, hate-
filled racist organisation".
And Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that
Britain First had "no place" in British society.
Opposition MPs were even stronger in the criticism,
with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn describing the
retweets as "abhorrent" and "dangerous".
Speaking in the Commons, Labour MP David
Lammy accused Mr Trump of "promoting a fascist,
racist, extremist hate group".
And Brendan Cox - whose wife MP Jo Cox was
murdered by a man who shouted "Britain First"
during the EU referendum campaign - said Mr
Trump's actions "legitimised hatred".
Why are British Muslim marriages unprotected by law? FEATURE / ISLAM MUSLIM MARRIAGE IN THE UK 60 percent Muslim marriages religious-only, unregistered 28 percent do not realise Islamic ceremony not legally recognised 66 percent know union has no legal status 50 percent do not intend to have marriage legalised - Source: Channel 4 survey Aina Khan Aina Khan is a journalist focusing on race, faith and identity. She's reading a masters in religion in politics at SOAS. @ ainajkhan United Kingdom Islam Europe, Maureen, right, was not entitled to financial support after her husband Rashid - the father of her child - passed away [Courtesy: Maureen] London, England - When Maureen wed her husband Rashid in a Muslim ceremony in 1973 in Bradford, she knew that should the relationship fall apart, she would not be entitled to share his assets. Her marriage was sanctified in the eyes of God, but in the eyes of the state it was "unregistered", not legal, and so financial protection...
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