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Rep. Chaffetz Supports Trump Despite Republican Backlash

Says Obama should focus anger on ISIS, not GOP

Rep.  Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Rep.  Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Some Republicans have started hitting Donald Trump for his attacks on President Obama’s willingness to fight terrorism. But Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Wednesday he shares Trump’s point of view and doesn’t see that “fire in the belly” when Obama talks about defeating ISIS.  

“When you want to see the president fired up, it is when he is talking about Republicans,” the Utah Republican said on Fox and Friends . “It’s not when he is going out and talking about defeating ISIS and protecting the United States of America.”  

Obama on Tuesday  described Trump’s comments following the shooting in an Orlando nightclub as “loose talk.” Obama said that the fury over him not using the term radical Islam is “political distraction.”    

The president said that he is focused on “protecting all Americans, including politicians who tweet. And appear on cable news shows,”  a clear jab at the presumptive Republican nominee.  

Trump responded that political correctness “is deadly, they don’t want to talk about the problem.” Trump said that Obama should be angrier at the shooter and “and these killers that shouldn’t be here”  than he is at the GOP.


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