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."

Read the full array of Republican reactions to Trump's speech over at Politico.

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