A general view of ambulances at the scene of a terrorist attack in the Las Ramblas area on August 17, 2017 in Barcelona, Spain. Officials say 13 people are confirmed dead and at least 50 injured after a van plowed into people in the Las Ramblas area of the city this afternoon. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
After Attack in Spain, Trump Invokes 'Vile' Myth Celebrating Mass Execution of Muslims
Suggesting Muslims should be executed with bullets dipped in pig blood called "sick" and "appalling"
As Barcelona, Spain reeled from an attack on Thursday that left 13 people dead and dozens more injured, President Donald Trump quickly took to Twitter to both denounce the attack and recount a "vile" myth that claims a U.S. general--though the story has been thoroughly debunked--executed 49 Muslims with bullets drenched in pig's blood.
The fact that the story isn't true never stopped Trump from parading it around on the campaign trail.
"Trump is celebrating torture and mass executions here. This isn't law and order--it's war crimes."
--Adam BestBut the significant point is not that the story is apocryphal, many pointed out--it is that the story is "bigoted" and "vicious nonsense."
"Yes, it's false," wrote MSNBC justice and security analyst Matthew Miller. "But [it's] more important that [the president of the United States] is talking about executing Muslims without trial with bullets coated in pigs blood. Appalling."
Though Trump insisted that he needed "the facts" before speaking about the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend, this concern was quickly dropped by the president in the case of Spain, where the attackers may have been motivated by Islamic extremism.
"Trump is celebrating torture and mass executions here. This isn't law and order--it's war crimes," wrote filmmaker Adam Best. "The Donald is clinging to the phrase 'radical Islamic terror' to avoid talking about white supremacist terrorism. So transparent."
Others reacted similarly:
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
As Barcelona, Spain reeled from an attack on Thursday that left 13 people dead and dozens more injured, President Donald Trump quickly took to Twitter to both denounce the attack and recount a "vile" myth that claims a U.S. general--though the story has been thoroughly debunked--executed 49 Muslims with bullets drenched in pig's blood.
The fact that the story isn't true never stopped Trump from parading it around on the campaign trail.
"Trump is celebrating torture and mass executions here. This isn't law and order--it's war crimes."
--Adam BestBut the significant point is not that the story is apocryphal, many pointed out--it is that the story is "bigoted" and "vicious nonsense."
"Yes, it's false," wrote MSNBC justice and security analyst Matthew Miller. "But [it's] more important that [the president of the United States] is talking about executing Muslims without trial with bullets coated in pigs blood. Appalling."
Though Trump insisted that he needed "the facts" before speaking about the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend, this concern was quickly dropped by the president in the case of Spain, where the attackers may have been motivated by Islamic extremism.
"Trump is celebrating torture and mass executions here. This isn't law and order--it's war crimes," wrote filmmaker Adam Best. "The Donald is clinging to the phrase 'radical Islamic terror' to avoid talking about white supremacist terrorism. So transparent."
Others reacted similarly:
As Barcelona, Spain reeled from an attack on Thursday that left 13 people dead and dozens more injured, President Donald Trump quickly took to Twitter to both denounce the attack and recount a "vile" myth that claims a U.S. general--though the story has been thoroughly debunked--executed 49 Muslims with bullets drenched in pig's blood.
The fact that the story isn't true never stopped Trump from parading it around on the campaign trail.
"Trump is celebrating torture and mass executions here. This isn't law and order--it's war crimes."
--Adam BestBut the significant point is not that the story is apocryphal, many pointed out--it is that the story is "bigoted" and "vicious nonsense."
"Yes, it's false," wrote MSNBC justice and security analyst Matthew Miller. "But [it's] more important that [the president of the United States] is talking about executing Muslims without trial with bullets coated in pigs blood. Appalling."
Though Trump insisted that he needed "the facts" before speaking about the white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia last weekend, this concern was quickly dropped by the president in the case of Spain, where the attackers may have been motivated by Islamic extremism.
"Trump is celebrating torture and mass executions here. This isn't law and order--it's war crimes," wrote filmmaker Adam Best. "The Donald is clinging to the phrase 'radical Islamic terror' to avoid talking about white supremacist terrorism. So transparent."
Others reacted similarly: