Donald Trump has retweeted three posts from Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen.
All three of the tweets were anti-Islam and claimed to show attacks by Muslims.
The posts included unverified videos titled ‘Muslim Destroys a Statue of Virgin Mary!’ and ‘Muslim migrant beats up Dutch boy on crutches!’
Jayda Fransen, 31, is a high profile member of the far right group Britain First, and is on bail facing four charges of causing religiously aggravated harassment.
She posted in response to his retweets saying: ‘GOD BLESS YOU TRUMP! GOD BLESS AMERICA!’
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! OCS @JaydaBF@realDonaldTrumppic.twitter.com/BiQfQkTra9
— Jayda Fransen (@JaydaBF) November 29, 2017
She is being investigated by Kent Police over the distribution of leaflets and the posting of online videos during a trial held at Canterbury Crown Court in May.
She will also appear in court in Northern Ireland in December charged with using threatening and abusive language in connection with a speech she made at an anti-terrorism demonstration in Belfast on August 6.
The string of tweets from the US president’s account has sparked shock and anger, with some wondering if his account could have been hacked.
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.
— Brendan Cox (@MrBrendanCox) November 29, 2017
Wait, Is President Donald Trump really retweeting the leader of Britain First? Has he been hacked? Will fiction ever be stranger than life again?
— Annie Goss (@AnnieGoss) November 29, 2017
Good morning, Mr President @realDonaldTrump – what the hell are you doing retweeting a bunch of unverified videos by Britain First, a bunch of disgustingly racist far-right extremists?
Please STOP this madness & undo your retweets.— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 29, 2017
Brendan Cox, whose wife Jo Cox MP was murdered by man shouting ‘Britain First’, tweeted: ‘Trump has legitimised the far right in his own country, now he’s trying to do it in ours.
‘Spreading hatred has consequences and the President should be ashamed of himself.’
After seeing the tweets, David Lammy MP wrote: ‘Trump sharing Britain First. Let that sink in. The President of the United States is promoting a fascist, racist, extremist hate group whose leaders have been arrested and convicted. He is no ally or friend of ours.
Donald Trump you are not welcome in my country and my city.’
US President using Twitter to promote an extremist UK party. HMG should protest, and ask US government to restrain him. Shocking interference.
— Tom Fletcher (@TFletcher) November 29, 2017
What is ACTUALLY happening. Donald Trump retweeting multiple tweets of fascist co-leader of fascist Brit group (mob) #BritainFirst. They wear army uniforms and storm mosques with crosses to “wage Christian war”. Leader currently in UK courts. pic.twitter.com/i0BghlMP4G
— Nargess Moballeghi (@JournoNargess) November 29, 2017
Donald Trump is openly retweeting bigots. Good morning, America!!!
— Jim Weber (@JimMWeber) November 29, 2017
Trump sharing Britain First. Let that sink in. The President of the United States is promoting a fascist, racist, extremist hate group whose leaders have been arrested and convicted. He is no ally or friend of ours. @realDonaldTrump you are not welcome in my country and my city.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) November 29, 2017
Will @realDonaldTrump retweet crimes committed by followers of other religions? Singling out Muslims, as the president of United States, is simply baiting attacks on them.
— Ruwayda Mustafah (@RuwaydaMustafah) November 29, 2017
The fact anyone is surprised to see Trump retweeting neofascist extremist hate groups shows how difficult people are finding it to accept how fucked up things really are.
— David Lewis (@davidclewis) November 29, 2017
Piers Morgan, who has previously praised Trump, wrote: ‘Good morning, Mr President – what the hell are you doing retweeting a bunch of unverified videos by Britain First, a bunch of disgustingly racist far-right extremists? Please STOP this madness & undo your retweets.’
The Muslim Council for Britain responded calling the retweets ‘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.’
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