Donald Trump says Orlando massacre shows he's 'right' about terrorism

Donald Trump.
(Image credit: Jeff Swenson/Getty Images)

In the aftermath of the mass shooting Sunday morning that left 50 people at a gay club in Orlando dead, Donald Trump took the time to pat himself on the back for "being right on radical Islamic terrorism."

First, the presumptive Republican nominee tweeted that the incident was "horrific," and asked "when will we get tough, smart & vigilant?" Later, he thanked people for congratulating him on "being right on radical Islamic terrorism," adding he doesn't "want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!"

After tweeting that President Obama should "immediately resign in disgrace!" if he doesn't mention "the words radical Islamic terrorism," Trump shared a warning: "What has happened in Orlando is just the beginning. Our leadership is weak and ineffective. I called it and asked for the ban. Must be tough." In the wake of December's massacre in San Bernardino, Trump proposed banning Muslims from entering the United States, but said last month it was "only a suggestion."

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The backlash against Trump was swift — singer John Legend called him a "truly awful person," while actor George Takei tweeted, "Once again, Donald, you have shown why you cannot lead us. 50 people are dead, and you bask in congratulations." On his website, Trump released a statement saying on Monday, he plans to deliver "a major speech to further address this terrorist attack, immigration, and national security" at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anselm's College.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.