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Donald Trump retweets British far-right leader's anti-Muslim videos No 10 condemns Trump retweeting of UK far-right leader’s anti-Muslim videos
(about 1 hour later)
Donald Trump has retweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted by Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of the far-right group Britain First facing charges of causing religiously aggravated harassment. Donald Trump has retweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted by the deputy leader of the UK far-right group Britain First, Jayda Fransen, prompting condemnation from Downing Street.
Trump, who has 43.5 million followers on the network, retweeted three separate tweets by Fransen on Wednesday, which all included separate, unverified anti-Islamic videos. The president’s decision to share the posts by Fransen, who is facing charges of causing religiously aggravated harassment, was described as “wrong” by the official spokesperson of the prime minister, Theresa May.
One purported to show a group of Muslims pushing a boy off a roof. Another claimed to show a Muslim destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary and another claimed to show an immigrant hitting a Dutch boy on crutches. Dutch police and media did not suggest the attacker was a Muslim immigrant in their coverage of the incident. A statement from No 10 said: “Britain First seeks to divide communities by their use of hateful narratives that peddle lies and stoke tensions. They cause anxiety to law-abiding people.
“British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far right which is the antithesis of the values this country represents, decency, tolerance and respect. It is wrong for the president to have done this.”
Trump, who has 43.5 million followers on Twitter, retweeted three separate posts by Fransen on Wednesday, which all included separate, unverified, anti-Islamic videos.
One purported to show a group of Muslims pushing a boy off a roof. Another claimed to show a Muslim destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary and another claimed to show a Muslim immigrant hitting a Dutch boy on crutches. In the latter case at least the videos’ credibility was cast in doubt when it emerged that Dutch police and media never suggested the attacker was a Muslim immigrant in their coverage of the incident.
Britain First is an Islamophobic group​ run by convicted racists.​ It was founded in 2011 by former members of the far-right British National Party (BNP) and loyalist extremists in Northern Ireland. Britain First is an Islamophobic group​ run by convicted racists.​ It was founded in 2011 by former members of the far-right British National Party (BNP) and loyalist extremists in Northern Ireland. 
It organises mosque invasions where followers, often dressed in paramilitary uniforms, raid multicultural areas in the UK. It organises mosque invasions where followers, often dressed in paramilitary uniforms, raid multicultural areas in the UK. 
The group has an influential presence on Facebook and actively uses social media to publicise anti-Islamic material. Its leader, Paul Golding, a former BNP councillor, and his deputy Jayda Fransen have had been arrested several times.​The group has an influential presence on Facebook and actively uses social media to publicise anti-Islamic material. Its leader, Paul Golding, a former BNP councillor, and his deputy Jayda Fransen have had been arrested several times.​
Fransen was found guilty in November 2016 of religiously aggravated harassment after she hurled abuse at a Muslim woman wearing a hijab.​ A month later Golding was ​jailed for eight weeks for breaching a court order banning him from entering a mosque.Fransen was found guilty in November 2016 of religiously aggravated harassment after she hurled abuse at a Muslim woman wearing a hijab.​ A month later Golding was ​jailed for eight weeks for breaching a court order banning him from entering a mosque.
Rightwing terrorist Thomas Mair shouted “Britain first” before killing the MP Jo Cox during the EU referendum campaign in 2016. Rightwing terrorist Thomas Mair shouted “Britain first” before killing the MP Jo Cox during the EU referendum campaign in 2016. 
The Islamophobic videos were tweeted by Fransen on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning before being picked up the president. They were not sequentially posted, meaning that Trump would have had to scroll through her timeline before picking out which videos to retweet. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter retweeted one of the videos on Tuesday. The Islamophobic videos were tweeted by Fransen – the deputy leader of the British far-right anti-Islam group – on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning before being picked up the president. They were not sequentially posted, meaning that Trump would have had to scroll through her timeline before picking out which videos to retweet. Conservative commentator Ann Coulter retweeted one of the videos on Tuesday.
Fransen does not disguise her extreme far-right Islamophobic views. Her Twitter timeline is headed by a pinned tweet of a video of her leading an anti-Muslim march in Luton carrying a cross.Fransen does not disguise her extreme far-right Islamophobic views. Her Twitter timeline is headed by a pinned tweet of a video of her leading an anti-Muslim march in Luton carrying a cross.
Thomas Mair, the extreme rightwing terrorist, shouted “Britain first” before killing the MP Jo Cox during the EU referendum campaign last year. Thomas Mair, the extreme rightwing terrorist, shouted “Britain first” before he killed the MP Jo Cox during the EU referendum campaign last year.
The videos were retweeted without comment. Trump then turned to the more familiar territory and suggested a boycott of “Fake News CNN”, before celebrating the level of the stock market and commenting on the firing of NBC anchor Matt Lauer. The US president retweeted the videos without comment. He then turned to the more familiar territory and suggested a boycott of “Fake News CNN”, before celebrating the level of the stock market and commenting on the firing of NBC anchor Matt Lauer.
Trump has often used his Twitter account to promote dubious figures. Earlier this week, Trump highlighted a website called MagaPill which promotes a variety of conspiracies. He has also used his account to retweet a Mussolini quote, to share a post from the account @whitegenocidetm and to circulate false and racially inflammatory crime statistics. Trump has often used his Twitter account to promote dubious figures. Earlier this week, he highlighted a website called MagaPill which promotes a variety of conspiracies. He has also used his account to retweet a Mussolini quote, to share a post from the account @whitegenocidetm and to circulate false and racially inflammatory crime statistics.
When asked in 2015, he said that he considered retweets endorsements. “You know, I retweet, I retweet for a reason,” he said. When asked in 2015, he said that he considered retweets endorsements. “You know, I retweet, I retweet for a reason.”
Trump has long been criticised for anti-Muslim rhetoric. In December 2015, he called for a ban on Muslims entering the US and, in 2016, said “I think Islam hates us.” He previously suggested the creation of a government database to track Muslim Americans as well. Trump has long been criticised for his anti-Muslim rhetoric. In December 2015, he called for a ban on Muslims entering the US and, in 2016, he said: “I think Islam hates us.” He had previously suggested the creation of a government database to track Muslim Americans.
Trump has long made false claims about Muslims. He has said that Muslims in New Jersey celebrated the terrorist attacks on 9/11, that Muslims knew about the San Bernardino mass shooting in advance and did not report it and claimed that an American general once defeated terrorism through mass execution with bullets dipped in pigs’ blood. All of these statements are untrue. Trump has also frequently made false claims about Muslims. He has said that Muslims in New Jersey celebrated the terrorist attacks on 9/11, that Muslims knew about the San Bernardino mass shooting in advance and did not report it, and has claimed that an American general once defeated terrorism through mass execution with bullets dipped in pigs’ blood. All of these statements are untrue.
Trump also tweeted in 2015 about what he called the UK’s “massive Muslim problem”.Trump also tweeted in 2015 about what he called the UK’s “massive Muslim problem”.
Since taking office, Trump has shown more restraint in his rhetoric and boasted about his reception at a summit in Saudi Arabia. However, he has been under heavy criticism for his travel ban, which was originally directed at seven predominantly Muslim countries. Many critics viewed the policy as a backdoor attempt to implement his campaign promise of a Muslim ban. Since taking office, Trump has shown more restraint in his rhetoric and boasted about his reception at a summit in Saudi Arabia. However, he has faced heavy criticism for his travel ban, which was originally directed at seven predominantly Muslim countries. Many critics viewed the policy as a backdoor attempt to implement his campaign promise of a Muslim ban. The ban remains partially blocked by the courts.
Fransen responded delightedly to her posts being republished by the Trump account, writing: “THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP, HAS RETWEETED THREE OF DEPUTY LEADER JAYDA FRANSEN’S TWITTER VIDEOS! DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF HAS RETWEETED THESE VIDEOS AND HAS AROUND 44 MILLION FOLLOWERS! GOD BLESS YOU TRUMP! GOD BLESS AMERICA!”Fransen responded delightedly to her posts being republished by the Trump account, writing: “THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP, HAS RETWEETED THREE OF DEPUTY LEADER JAYDA FRANSEN’S TWITTER VIDEOS! DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF HAS RETWEETED THESE VIDEOS AND HAS AROUND 44 MILLION FOLLOWERS! GOD BLESS YOU TRUMP! GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
In September she was charged with causing religiously aggravated harassment together with Paul Golding, the leader of Britain First.In September she was charged with causing religiously aggravated harassment together with Paul Golding, the leader of Britain First.
“The investigation related to the distribution of leaflets in the Thanet and Canterbury areas, and the posting of online videos during a trial held at Canterbury crown court the same month,” Kent police said at the time. The Canterbury trial involved three Muslim men and a teenager who were eventually convicted of rape and jailed.“The investigation related to the distribution of leaflets in the Thanet and Canterbury areas, and the posting of online videos during a trial held at Canterbury crown court the same month,” Kent police said at the time. The Canterbury trial involved three Muslim men and a teenager who were eventually convicted of rape and jailed.
Brendan Cox, the widow of the murdered MP, accused Trump of spreading hatred and trying to legitimise the far right in Britain.Brendan Cox, the widow of the murdered MP, accused Trump of spreading hatred and trying to legitimise the far right in Britain.
Trump has legitimised the far right in his own country, now he’s trying to do it in ours. Spreading hatred has consequences & the President should be ashamed of himself.Trump has legitimised the far right in his own country, now he’s trying to do it in ours. Spreading hatred has consequences & the President should be ashamed of himself.
Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour Party, called for the British government to condemn Trump’s retweets. Tracey Brabin, Labour MP for Cox’s former seat of Batley and Spen, said Trump’s retweets were “incredibly troubling”.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 she said: “He has shown such lack in leadership as president of United States, but this just beggars belief. As Brendan says this hatred has consequences and we know more than any in Batley and Spen what those consequences are. The government must get involved in this. We are not holding this man’s hand, we are challenging him and holding him to account.”
Before No 10 condemned the retweets, Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the Labour party, called for the British government to do so.
I hope our Government will condemn far-right retweets by Donald Trump. They are abhorrent, dangerous and a threat to our society.I hope our Government will condemn far-right retweets by Donald Trump. They are abhorrent, dangerous and a threat to our society.
The Muslim Council of Britain had also urged the prime minister to distance herself from Trump over the comments.
In a statement the umbrella body for British Muslims said: “This is the clearest endorsement yet from the US president of the far-right and their vile anti-Muslim propaganda. We cannot give such bigotry a free pass.”
Additional reporting by Jon Henley and Daniel BoffeyAdditional reporting by Jon Henley and Daniel Boffey