Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump on Saturday defended himself against critics who complained he should have corrected a supporter who said at a town hall meeting that President Obama is a Muslim and not a U.S. citizen.
“We have a problem in this country,” the man said at the campaign event in Rochester, New Hampshire, on Thursday. “It’s called Muslims. We know our current president is one.”
“Right,” Trump responded.
“You know he’s not even American,” said the man, who said he was from White Plains.
The man alleged that Muslims in the United States gather at "training camps" to plot to kill Americans and wanted to know what Trump would do to "get rid of them."
“We’re going to be looking at a lot of different things,” Trump replied. “A lot of people are saying that, and a lot of people are saying that bad things are happening out there. We’re going to be looking at that and plenty of other things.”
His comments were seized on by critics who said Trump should have corrected the man, as Sen. John McCain did in 2008 when he was running for president and he admonished a supporter who said Obama was "an Arab."
Fellow Republican presidential candidates, including Gov. Chris Christie and Sen. Lindsey Graham, rebuked Trump. “I would just tell you that if somebody at one of my town hall meetings said something like that, I would correct them and say, now, the president’s a Christian and he was born in this country," Christie told the Today show on Friday.
Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton also blasted Trump for his “prejudiced" and “discriminatory” actions.
But, in a series of tweets on Saturday, Trump defended himself, saying Obama would not come to his defense in a similar situation.
Am I morally obligated to defend the president every time somebody says something bad or controversial about him? I don't think so!
This is the first time in my life that I have caused controversy by NOT saying something.
If someone made a nasty or controversial statement about me to the president, do you really think he would come to my rescue? No chance!
If I would have challenged the man, the media would have accused me of interfering with that man's right of free speech. A no win situation!
Christians need support in our country (and around the world), their religious liberty is at stake! Obama has been horrible, I will be great
Speaking at the Faith and Freedom Coalition event in Iowa for Republican presidential hopefuls, Trump briefly addressed the flap, saying he would let the tweets stand on their own. He then proceeded to read the to the audience before taking questions.
"I think they’re pretty self explanatory and descriptive," he said.
For years, Trump served as the most high-profile face of the false claims that circulated online about Obama's citizenship.
Speaking in front of Trump and other guests at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2011, the president mocked the wealthy billionaire for his support of the so-called "birther movement."
"No one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald," the president said. "And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter — like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?"
Obama lampooned Trump's "credentials and experience," mocking the D-list stars Trump had to choose from on Celebrity Apprentice.
"These are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night," the president deadpanned to widespread laughter as Trump sat glowering.