A key argument Donald Trump makes in his presidential run is that he will keep America safe, both by fighting terrorism overseas and restoring law and order back home in the wake of a series of shootings against police. On Monday, Trump tied the two issues together, suggesting that the shooter in the latest police killing in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Sunday was motivated by “radical Islam.”
But Trump’s comment Monday during an interview on “Fox & Friends,” got out far ahead of what law-enforcement and security authorities have said about what may have motivated the man who shot and killed two police officers and one sheriff’s deputy. Early indications are that he had no known ties to any radical Islamic group.
A look at what Trump said in the interview and what’s known about the shooting so far:
TRUMP: “I mean, you look at so many different fronts, it’s, you know, radical Islam, and by the way, he seems to be a member of that group also, seems to be something going on there, but it’s very sad what’s happening.”
THE FACTS: The motive of shooter black Marine veteran Gavin Long is not yet known, although comments and videos he’s posted online shed some light on his thinking.