After the president's retweet, a wave of criticism and charges of "Islamophobia" ensued.The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) wrote in a statement on its website that, "a tweet by President Trump of an Islamophobic image mocking Islam and Muslims will further endanger members of the American Muslim and Sikh communities."CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad said that Trump's "childish, undignified and offensive" retweet "further endangers American Muslims, Sikhs and members of other faiths who wear recognizable religious attire and are increasingly targeted by bigots nationwide." He also called on Americans to "speak out against this promotion of religious hatred by the occupant of the Oval Office."The Sikh Coalition also criticized the tweet, saying that: "Religious articles of faith are sacred to those who keep them, and they should never be used to demonize entire nations, cultures or religions." The organization added that images like the one that Trump retweeted "endanger communities including Muslims, Sikhs, and others."The corrupted Dems trying their best to come to the Ayatollah's rescue.#NancyPelosiFakeNews pic.twitter.com/a0ksPHeXCy
— داون آندر (@D0wn_Under) January 13, 2020
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham speaking to Fox News, defending Trump's retweet.“I think the president is making clear that the Democrats have been parroting Iranian talking points and almost taking the side of terrorists and those who were out to kill the Americans,” Grisham told Fox News. "I think the president was making the point that the Democrats hate him so much that they're willing to be on the side of countries and leadership of countries who want to kill Americans."1/2 Religious articles of faith are sacred to those who keep them, and they should never be used to demonize entire nations, cultures, or religions. pic.twitter.com/4LrDYWfBAH
— Sikh Coalition (@sikh_coalition) January 13, 2020
Fox News anchor Harris Faulkner read one Twitter user's reaction, in which the user questioned why Trump would use "the way I and millions of other Americans dress and the religious beliefs that We hold as a slur."Stephanie Grisham on Trump retweeting an image mocking how Muslims dress: "I think the president is making clear that Democrats are parroting Iranian talking points and almost taking the side of terrorists and those who were out to kill Americans." pic.twitter.com/zCY6xUUj9p
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 13, 2020
According to CBS, the original poster of the doctored image "extensively" tweets about the conspiracy that Pelosi is aiding Iran.The hashtag "#NancyPelosiFakeNews," has been used frequently by "Trollbot" accounts, or automated and anonymous troll accounts, according to Bot Sentinel, a website that analyzes Twitter trends.Why the actual hell is the president of the United States using the way I and millions of other Americans dress and the religious beliefs that We hold as a slur. This absolutely must be condemned by congressional lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. pic.twitter.com/wpruAzWBTI
— hend amry (@LibyaLiberty) January 13, 2020