Trump in NH: ‘Days of Deadly Ignorance Will End’

MANCHESTER, NH – Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump had already planned to make a policy speech at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at St. Anslem College on June 13 to be focused on whether former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was prepared for the presidency.

But in the wake of Orlando, Florida terrorist attacks, Trump, the billionaire businessman, pivoted; he canceled a rally in Portsmouth and a fundraiser in Boston but showed up at the IOP and pummeled his Democratic adversaries' political responses to the horrific tragedy.

In a 35-minute speech, Trump called the attacks  the worst terrorist strike since Sept. 11, 2001, and the worst mass shooting in United States history — “a growing threat inside our borders” and “a strike at the heart and soul of who we are as a nation.” He called the Pulse gay nightclub attack “an assault on the ability of free people to live their lives, love who they want, and express their identity.” He added that both President Barack Obama and Clinton were wrong to call for more gun control and derelict in their duty by not saying the words “radical Islam.”

Trump said the United States needed an immigration policy that served “the interests and values of America” with the “same thought process.” Radical Islam, he added, was incompatible with Western values and institutions.

“Remember this: Radical Islam is anti-woman, anti-gay, and anti-America,” he said. “We need to tell the truth about radical Islam, and we need to do it now.”

In order to tackle the problems, Trump said he would fix what he called a dysfunctional immigration system, not in years, but immediately, to ensure the safety of all Americans. He advocated spending more money for local first responders as well as the intelligence community. Trump said, if he is elected there would be more border control and screening to keep radicals out of the country who might promote Sharia Law and utilize information that is already available to law enforcement. Trump added that the Syrian immigration crisis could be even more dangerous than the Trojan Horse constructed by the Greeks against Troy.

“Radical Islam enslaves women and murders gays – I don’t want them in our country,” he said to cheers in the event hall.

Clinton, he added, had “no clue” about what is going on with radicals, and her campaign “broadcasts weakness across the entire world.” Trump stated that Obama’s “apology tour” and Clinton’s time at the State Department weakened the nation’s place in the world. He also defended preservation of the Second Amendment and said he would meet with the National Rifle Association and others to find ways that Americans can protect themselves from terrorism.

“Ignorance is not bliss — it’s deadly,” he said. “Totally deadly. The days of deadly ignorance will end … and it will end soon.”

Progressive organizations, including People for the American Way, Granite State Progress and NextGen Climate, hosted a “Hate Does Not Grow on Granite” protest outside of St. Anselm College in Manchester. In a statement, Zandra Rice Hawkins, executive director of the Granite State Progress Education Fund, said that Trump didn’t reflect New Hampshire values.

“From his terrifying energy plan, to his war on women and immigrants, to his (latest) recent racist remarks against a federal judge, Trump is running an extremely toxic campaign and his poisonous views run counter to Granite State values,” she said. 

Caption: A screenshot of a live feed of Donald Trump speaking at the NH Institute of Politics on June 13, 2016. Protesters also gathered at St. Anselm College. Credit: YouTube.com, NextGen Climate Twitter account.