Al Qaeda group uses Donald Trump footage in recruitment video


Footage of Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump is reportedly featured in a terrorist recruiting video for Al-Shabab, a Somali group affiliated with al Qaeda. The video released Friday, which The New York Times reports jihadist propaganda experts have confirmed as authentic, characterizes the U.S. as harboring a "malignant hatred" of Islam.
"So remember this, so listen, Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what the hell is going on," Trump says in the clip used.
In the video, old footage features Anwar al-Awlaki, an al Qaeda-affiliated American who died in 2011, encouraged Muslims in the U.S. to "either leave or fight," because "the West will eventually turn against its Muslim citizens."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

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.
The idea that Trump's anti-Islam messaging could be used as a terrorist recruiting tool surfaced at the Dec. 19 Democratic debate. Frontrunner Hillary Clinton had incorrectly claimed another major terrorist group, the Islamic State, has used Trump's rhetoric to recruit militants.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections
-
News organizations reject Pentagon restrictions
Speed Read The proposed policy is Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s latest move to limit press access at the Pentagon
-
Trump declares end to Gaza war, ‘dawn’ of new Mideast
Speed Read Hamas freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages and Israel released thousands of Palestinian detainees
-
Trump DOJ indicts New York AG Letitia James
Speed Read New York Attorney General Letitia James was indicted as Trump’s Justice Department pursues charges against his political opponents