Trump Says Remark About Obama Being ISIS Founder Was 'Not That Sarcastic'
Donald Trump kind of, sort of defends his comments referring to the President.
— ERIE, Pa. -- After repeatedly saying in recent days that President Obama is the "founder of ISIS," Donald Trump seemed to change his tune Friday morning, saying that he was being "sarcastic."
But at a rally in Erie, Pa. Friday afternoon, Trump amended himself once more, saying he was being "not that sarcastic" in his remarks about the president, which garnered criticism because of other dubious suggestions about Obama, such as his birthplace and religion.
"When I said that Obama -- and of course I’m being sarcastic. And they know that. Because after I said that, I said he’s the MVP," Trump said.
"So I said, the founder of ISIS. Obviously I’m being sarcastic," he said. Then, perplexingly, he immediately added, "Then, then -- but not that sarcastic, to be honest with you. "
Trump tweeted early this morning that he was being sarcastic when he called President Obama the "founder of ISIS."
“Ratings challenged @CNN reports so seriously that I call President Obama (and Clinton) ‘the founder’ of ISIS, & MVP,” he tweeted. “THEY DON'T GET SARCASM?”
Trump insisted over and over Thursday that he meant that Obama founded the terrorist organization.
“I call President Obama and Hillary Clinton the founders of ISIS. They are the founders,” Trump said at a National Association of Home Builders event in Miami Thursday morning.
"He is the founder in a true sense," he said in the Florida rally Thursday night.
When pressed to clarify in interviews Thursday, Trump insisted he meant what he said.
In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Hewitt attempted to offer an olive branch.
"You meant that he created the vacuum, he lost the peace," he began.
"No, I meant he's the founder of ISIS. I do," Trump responded.
"I meant exactly that. He's the founder of ISIS," he told the Miami NBC affiliate Thursday night when asked what he meant by the comment.
Trump then mocked the "poor, pathetic" media in a subsequent tweet this morning for being unable to tell when he is being sarcastic.
“It goes without saying that this is a false claim from a presidential candidate with an aversion to the truth and an unprecedented lack of knowledge,” Jake Sullivan, the Clinton campaign’s senior policy adviser, said in a statement Thursday.
At Friday's rally, Trump was also joined by Reince Priebus, Chair of the Republican National Committee, the first time he has joined Trump on the trail.
"Let me tell you something, Donald Trump, the Republican party, all of you, we're going to put him in the White House and save this country together!” Priebus said.
ABC News’ Lee Ferran contributed to this report.
Related Topics
Related Stories
ABC News Live