search
Sections List
American Journal News

Listen: Trump terrorism adviser refuses to say that Trump views Islam as a religion

Once again, it has been made clear that there is no “pivot” coming from this White House. Donald Trump’s new National Security Advisor, H.R. McMaster, has advised against demonizing Muslims with the term “Radical Islamic Terrorism,” and noted that the term is not helpful in the fight against terrorism. But the phrase still made a […]

By Tommy Christopher - March 01, 2017
Share
Sebastian Gorka
Former Trump White House staffer and current Nazi sympathizer Sebastian Gorka

Donald Trump’s new National Security Advisor, H.R. McMaster, has advised against demonizing Muslims with the term “Radical Islamic Terrorism,” and noted that the term is not helpful in the fight against terrorism.

But the phrase still made a pointed appearance at Trump’s joint address to Congress, followed by a bald-faced lie:

We are also taking strong measures to protect our nation from radical Islamic terrorism.

[applause]

According to data provided by the Department of Justice, the vast majority of individuals convicted of terrorism and terrorism-related offenses since 9/11 came here from outside of our country.

The Justice Department did not provide any data to news organizations to back up the claim, but available data shows that more than half of those “who died in the pursuit of or were convicted of any terrorism-related offense inspired by a foreign terrorist organization” were U.S.-born, and that right-wing extremism poses a far more serious threat to Americans.

Undeterred by facts, the Trump White House continues to demonize Muslims, and now may have managed to reach a new low by refusing to even recognize Islam as a religion.

Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President for the Strategic Initiatives Group, appeared on National Public Radio the morning after Trump’s address and refused, for a second time, to state whether Trump believes Islam is a religion, saying that he did not want to get into “theological debates”:

INSKEEP: …when you were on the program, we asked if you felt the president believes Islam is a religion. The reason we have to ask that is because the previous national security advisor, Michael Flynn, made some statements suggesting he didn’t believe it was a religion. You weren’t aware then what the president’s view was — have you learned since? Does the president the president believe Islam is a religion?

GORKA: It would be nice if you actually reported things accurately. I didn’t say I refused to do anything of the sort. This is not a theological seminary, this is the White House. We are not going to get into theological debates. If the president has a certain attitude to a certain religion, that’s something you can ask him. But we’re talking about national security and the totalitarian ideologies that drive the groups that threaten America.

Legally speaking, treating Islam as anything other than a religion may seem like a non-starter, but Trump has already proven willing and able to ignore constitutional protections for religion, and the view expressed by Gorka promises more of the same bigotry, expressed in policies like the Muslim ban.

Even if the courts are successful in blocking such actions, Trump’s campaign to demonize Muslims can have, and has had, deadly consequences.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
AJ News
Latest
House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

By Jesse Valentine - April 24, 2025
Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

By Jesse Valentine - April 22, 2025
Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2025
“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2025
Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

By Jesse Valentine - April 17, 2025
Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

By Jesse Valentine - April 16, 2025
North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

By Jesse Valentine - April 11, 2025
Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

By Jesse Valentine - April 09, 2025
Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

By Jesse Valentine - April 08, 2025
Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

By Jesse Valentine - March 28, 2025
Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

By Jesse Valentine - March 26, 2025
GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

By Jesse Valentine - March 18, 2025
HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

By Jesse Valentine - March 11, 2025
Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

By Jesse Valentine - March 10, 2025
Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

By - February 28, 2025
Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

By Jesse Valentine - February 27, 2025
Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2025
Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

By Jesse Valentine - February 13, 2025