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UK repeats condemnation of Trump far-right retweets Delete your Twitter - UK MPs tell Donald Trump
(about 1 hour later)
UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd has repeated Downing Street's condemnation of Donald Trump's retweeting of videos posted by a far-right group. MPs have attacked Donald Trump's retweeting of far-right posts, accusing him of fuelling hate and calling for a planned state visit to be cancelled.
Ms Rudd told MPs the US president had been "wrong" to share the Britain First posts. One Tory MP said the world would be "a better place" if Prime Minister Theresa May could persuade the US president to delete his Twitter account.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said she hoped Mrs May's criticism "would have some impact on the president".
But she rejected calls for his state visit to be called off.
Trump hits out at May over tweet criticism
She said an invitation "has been extended and accepted" but the "dates and the precise timings have yet to be decided".
She urged critics of the president to remember the importance of the transatlantic alliance to Britain, saying intelligence sharing between the two countries had "undoubtedly saved British lives".
"That is the big picture here, and I would urge people to remember that," she added.
But she repeated Downing Street's condemnation of the US president, saying he had been "wrong" to share the posts by far-right group Britain First.
She said the UK government would "not tolerate any groups who spread hate by demonising those of other faiths or ethnicities".She said the UK government would "not tolerate any groups who spread hate by demonising those of other faiths or ethnicities".
Responding to a call by MP Peter Bone for the president to delete his account, she said: "It's interesting to note [Mr Bone's] advice regarding Twitter accounts - I'm sure many of us might share his view."
Former Conservative minister Tim Loughton said if Twitter was "genuine in its commitment to fight hate crime online" it would delete the US president's account.
Ms Rudd replied: "I am sure that the chief executive of Twitter will have heard the interesting suggestions from (Mr Loughton) and we will leave it to them to decide what action to take."
Several MPs called for the state visit to be cancelled, with former Labour cabinet minister Yvette Cooper saying Britain could not "simply roll out a red carpet and give a platform for the President of the United States" to "sow discord in our communities".
Mr Trump earlier hit back at Downing Street's criticism of his tweets.Mr Trump earlier hit back at Downing Street's criticism of his tweets.
He told Prime Minister Theresa May to focus on "terrorism" in the UK after she criticised his sharing of far-right videos.He told Prime Minister Theresa May to focus on "terrorism" in the UK after she criticised his sharing of far-right videos.
"Don't focus on me, focus on the destructive radical Islamic terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom," Mr Trump tweeted."Don't focus on me, focus on the destructive radical Islamic terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom," Mr Trump tweeted.
MPs are debating an urgent question by Labour MP Stephen Doughty, who called for a planned state visit by Mr Trump to be cancelled.
Ms Rudd said the invitation for a state visit "has been extended and accepted" but the "dates and the precise timings have yet to be decided".
The US and the UK are close allies and often described as having a "special relationship". Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit the Trump White House.The US and the UK are close allies and often described as having a "special relationship". Theresa May was the first foreign leader to visit the Trump White House.
MPs have been reacting to the tweet, with Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke backing Mrs May and calling Britain First a "ghastly, obnoxious organisation".
But while Education Secretary Justine Greening said she disagreed with Mr Trump's actions, they should not be allowed to damage the special relationship between the two countries.
The videos shared by Mr Trump, who has more than 40 million followers, were initially posted by Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, a group founded by former members of the far-right British National Party (BNP).The videos shared by Mr Trump, who has more than 40 million followers, were initially posted by Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, a group founded by former members of the far-right British National Party (BNP).
Ms Fransen, 31, has been charged in the UK with using "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour" over speeches she made at a rally in Belfast.Ms Fransen, 31, has been charged in the UK with using "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour" over speeches she made at a rally in Belfast.
Several leading UK politicians have criticised the president for retweeting her posts, as has the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who said it was "deeply disturbing" that Mr Trump had "chosen to amplify the voice of far-right extremists".Several leading UK politicians have criticised the president for retweeting her posts, as has the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who said it was "deeply disturbing" that Mr Trump had "chosen to amplify the voice of far-right extremists".
And it has led to renewed calls for Mr Trump's planned state visit to the UK to be cancelled, although Downing Street said on Wednesday that the invitation still stood. Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said Mr Trump had "endorsed the views of a vile, hate-filled racist organisation that hates me and people like me", adding: "He is wrong and I refuse to let it go and say nothing."
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has previously called for the "ill-judged" trip to be cancelled, said: "It beggars belief that the president of our closest ally doesn't see that his support of this extremist group actively undermines the values of tolerance and diversity that makes Britain so great.London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who has previously called for the "ill-judged" trip to be cancelled, said: "It beggars belief that the president of our closest ally doesn't see that his support of this extremist group actively undermines the values of tolerance and diversity that makes Britain so great.
"After this latest incident, it is increasingly clear that any official visit at all from President Trump to Britain would not be welcomed.""After this latest incident, it is increasingly clear that any official visit at all from President Trump to Britain would not be welcomed."
In hitting out at Mrs May, Mr Trump first tagged the wrong Twitter account, sending his statement to a different user with just six followers. He then deleted the tweet and posted it again, this time directing the message to the UK PM's official account.In hitting out at Mrs May, Mr Trump first tagged the wrong Twitter account, sending his statement to a different user with just six followers. He then deleted the tweet and posted it again, this time directing the message to the UK PM's official account.
After already condemning Mr Trump's actions on Wednesday, Brendan Cox - whose wife, MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a right-wing extremist who shouted "Britain first" before committing the act - told the US president to focus on problems in his own country.After already condemning Mr Trump's actions on Wednesday, Brendan Cox - whose wife, MP Jo Cox, was murdered by a right-wing extremist who shouted "Britain first" before committing the act - told the US president to focus on problems in his own country.
An unnecessary controversy
By Anthony Zurcher, North America reporter
It's clear at this point that Donald Trump won't let a perceived slight or criticism go unanswered - even if it's from a supposed friend. Even if it's from the leader of the president's closest international ally.
So shock isn't exactly the right word to describe the reaction to Mr Trump's initially botched attempt to tell Theresa May to, in effect, mind her own business. This is just another example of the US president's self-described "modern-day presidential" use of social media, where Twitter is a cudgel for score-settling no matter the diplomatic cost.
When Mr Trump assumed the presidency, one of the first foreign dignitaries he received was Mrs May, and it appeared they formed a quick bond - briefly holding hands as they walked past the White House Rose Garden. Those bonds will now be tested in a spat over a few morning retweets of inflammatory videos.
It's a wholly unnecessary controversy, but the international consequences could be all too real.
What did Trump retweet?What did Trump retweet?
The first video purportedly shows a "Muslim migrant" attacking a young Dutch man on crutches. However, the claim in this tweet appears to have little substance.The first video purportedly shows a "Muslim migrant" attacking a young Dutch man on crutches. However, the claim in this tweet appears to have little substance.
A spokesperson from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service told the BBC that the person arrested for the attack "was born and raised in the Netherlands" and was not a migrant.A spokesperson from the Dutch Public Prosecution Service told the BBC that the person arrested for the attack "was born and raised in the Netherlands" and was not a migrant.
The Dutch embassy in Washington DC confirmed this on Twitter.The Dutch embassy in Washington DC confirmed this on Twitter.
The second video retweeted by Mr Trump shows a man smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary.The second video retweeted by Mr Trump shows a man smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary.
This video was uploaded to YouTube in 2013. The man in the clip says: "No-one but Allah will be worshipped in the land of the Levant," which could place him in Syria.This video was uploaded to YouTube in 2013. The man in the clip says: "No-one but Allah will be worshipped in the land of the Levant," which could place him in Syria.
The third video originates from the riots that took place in Egypt in 2013, and shows a man being pushed from the top of a building in Alexandria. In 2015, those involved in the incident were prosecuted, and one man was executed.The third video originates from the riots that took place in Egypt in 2013, and shows a man being pushed from the top of a building in Alexandria. In 2015, those involved in the incident were prosecuted, and one man was executed.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday that Mrs May and other world leaders knew that "these are real threats that we have to talk about".White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday that Mrs May and other world leaders knew that "these are real threats that we have to talk about".
"Whether it's a real video, the threat is real," she said."Whether it's a real video, the threat is real," she said.
What other reaction has there been?What other reaction has there been?
Mr Trump's actions on Wednesday were criticised by both Democrats and Republicans.Mr Trump's actions on Wednesday were criticised by both Democrats and Republicans.
Republican Senator John McCain said he was "surprised" at the president's tweets.Republican Senator John McCain said he was "surprised" at the president's tweets.
Meanwhile, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said that Mrs May was "one of the great world leaders", adding that he had "incredible love and respect for her".Meanwhile, Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah said that Mrs May was "one of the great world leaders", adding that he had "incredible love and respect for her".
Khizr Khan, the father of US soldier Humayun Khan who was killed in the Iraq war, told Today: "[Mr Trump] holds the hatred. He is an actor, he acts and fabricates these facts to exploit people, innocent people, that fall victim to his bigotry and he sees the benefit.Khizr Khan, the father of US soldier Humayun Khan who was killed in the Iraq war, told Today: "[Mr Trump] holds the hatred. He is an actor, he acts and fabricates these facts to exploit people, innocent people, that fall victim to his bigotry and he sees the benefit.
"We all need to unite ourselves, all decent people of the world, against the menace of terrorism.""We all need to unite ourselves, all decent people of the world, against the menace of terrorism."
In the UK, many politicians voiced their concerns about the videos that were shared.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said the president had "endorsed the views of a vile, hate-filled racist organisation".
And Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted that Britain First had "no place" in British society.
Opposition MPs were even stronger in the criticism, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn describing the retweets as "abhorrent" and "dangerous".
Speaking in the Commons, Labour MP David Lammy accused Mr Trump of "promoting a fascist, racist, extremist hate group".
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