Former President Donald Trump claimed that Londonhas become unrecognisable after opening its ‘doors to jihad’ – and vowed to never let that happen in the US.
Trump fired off the wild comment during a campaign rally speech on Wednesday, his day off from his ongoing hush money trial.
‘We’ve seen what happened when Europe opened their doors to jihad. Look at Paris, look at London – they’re no longer recognisable,’ said Trump in Waukesha, Wisconsin.
‘And I’m going get myself into a lot of trouble with the folks in Paris and the folks in London, but you know what, that’s the fact.
‘They are no longer recognisable, and we can’t let that happen to our country.’
Trump continued by touting American culture.
‘We have incredible culture, tradition – nothing wrong with their culture, their tradition,’ he said. ‘We can’t let that happen here, and I’ll never let it happen to the United States of America.’
Trump offered no evidence or further explanation for his claim.
He mentioned London and European cities after criticizing President Joe Biden for reportedly considering options to welcome Palestinians who have family members who are American citizens.
Trump said told his supporters that ‘your towns and villages will now be accepting people from Gaza and various other places’ and that ‘under no circumstances shall we bring thousands of refugees’.
The ex-president again ripped pro-Palestine protests happening at universities across the US, calling them ‘raging lunatics and Hamas sympathizers’.
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‘Vanquish the radicals and take back our campuses for all of the normal students who want a safe place from which to learn,’ Trump said.
He also blamed Biden for not intervening.
Biden broke his silence on the issue on Thursday, saying that Americans have the right to peacefully protest but that the US is not a ‘lawless country’ and ‘order must prevail’.
Trump and London Mayor Sadiq Khan have taken shots at each other for years. Khan on Thursday hit back at Trump’s remark that London is unrecognisable.
‘Today is an opportunity to show Donald Trump,’ Khan told the Daily Mail, ‘That London will always choose hope over fear and unity over division.’
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