Top Republican warns that Donald Trump's inflammatory rhetoric could help recruit more terrorists

Donald Trump 2016.
(Image credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, is worried that Donald Trump's combative tone against terrorism might just make things worse. In an interview with Politico following Trump's speech Monday addressing the Orlando shooting, McCaul suggested that Trump's proposals — such as a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. — might actually aid terrorist recruitment efforts. "I think you have to be a little careful with the rhetoric," the Texas congressman said. "You don't want to inflame or help the recruiting efforts."

McCaul isn't the only top Republican distancing himself from Trump's rhetoric. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) was quick to clarify Tuesday that "this is a war with radical Islam," not with Islam, and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has already nixed the idea of Trump's ban on Muslim immigrants even coming to a vote. "You don't ban somebody on race [or] religion," McCarthy said. "I don't see that coming to the floor."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More