US President Donald Trump dismissed concerns that the massacre by a white supremacist terrorist in New Zealand indicates a dangerous trend.
Trump was asked if the killing of at least 49 people in two mosques in Christchurch by a man claiming that white people are being overwhelmed in their historic homelands demonstrates a rising problem around the world.
“I don’t really. I think it’s a small group of people that have very, very serious problems, I guess,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
“If you look what happened in New Zealand, perhaps that’s the case. I don’t know enough about it yet.”
Although Trump referred to the bloodbath as “horrific” and “terrible,” his comments downplaying the potentially wider threat were likely to face criticism. Trump has been repeatedly accused before of making comments that were at best insensitive and at worst racist when it comes to race relations and far-right movements.
The terrorist — identified as an Australian white nationalist — livestreamed the assault on social media and published a manifesto filled with racist conspiracy theories.
He also referred to Trump as “a symbol of renewed white identity and common purpose.”
Asked if he’d seen the manifesto, Trump said: “I did not.”
Earlier, he tweeted that he’d spoken with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to express “solidarity” and to say, “We love you New Zealand!”
Just spoke with Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, regarding the horrific events that have taken place over the past 24 hours. I informed the Prime Minister….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2019
….that we stand in solidarity with New Zealand – and that any assistance the U.S.A. can give, we stand by ready to help. We love you New Zealand!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2019
In the worst terror attack of New Zealand, forty-nine people have been killed and 48 more hurt, reported the New Zealand Herald.
One of the terrorists, an Australian, livestreamed the shooting at Al Noor Mosque in chilling 17-min video. In the video, he can be seen shooting indiscriminately at people inside the mosque. The terrorist can been seen changing magazines of his gun and shooting the dead over and over again.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has called it an unprecedented terrorist attack.
Earlier, Prime Minister of Australia Scott Morrison said that hooting in Christchurch was carried out by “an extremist, right-wing, violent terrorist” who was an Australian-born citizen.
Moreover, Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan while reacting over the massacre in New Zealand said that the act reaffirms the fact that ‘terrorism has no religion.’
He further added that these acts are happening due to increased Islamophobia post 9/11.
