Donald Trump stands by false claim Barack Obama founded Islamic State

“I don’t care,” the billionaire businessman replied. “He was the founder. The way he got out of Iraq, that was the founding of ISIS, OK?” In a later speech to homebuilders in Miami today, Trump said his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, would be given “the most valuable player award” by IS. “Her only competition is Barack Obama,” he said. He later added of Clinton, “Oh boy, is ISIS hoping for her.”

Clinton’s campaign accused Trump of “trash-talking” the US while failing to present any serious counter-terrorism plans of his own. Jake Sullivan, Clinton’s top policy aide, called Trump’s accusation a “false claim” and drew a connection to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Once again, he’s echoing the talking points of Putin and our adversaries to attack American leaders and American interests,” Sullivan said.

Dozens of frustrated Republicans, meanwhile, gathered signatures today for a letter to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus that urges the party chief to stop helping Trump and instead focus GOP resources on protecting vulnerable Senate and House candidates. A draft of the letter, obtained by The Associated Press, warns that Trump’s “divisiveness, recklessness, incompetence, and record-breaking unpopularity risk turning this election into a Democratic landslide.”

At least 70 Republicans have signed the letter so far, according to Republican operative Andrew Weinstein, who said it included five former members of Congress and 16 former RNC staffers.