Hillary Clinton Defends Claim That ISIS Uses Donald Trump’s Videos to Recruit Followers

Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has defended her claim that ISIS is using videos of Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric to recruit followers.

Donald Trump disputed that the videos exist and demanded an apology, to which Hillary Clinton’s spokesman said “hell no”.

During December 19 debate, Hillary Clinton said the Republican front-runner was becoming the group’s “best recruiter”.

Donald Trump has called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States, drawing criticism from around the world.

Despite providing no evidence, Donald Trump has also said American Muslims in New Jersey cheered the 9/11 attacks. He has also opposed the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the US.

Rivals in both parties have accused Donald Trump of xenophobia and preying on Americans’ heighten fears about terrorism after attacks in Paris and San Bernardino.

Earlier, a spokeswoman for Hillary Clinton’s campaign said they are not aware of a specific Islamic State video featuring Donald Trump, but that jihadis use his comments about Muslims for recruitment.

“She lies about everything,” Donald Trump said, adding that the Democratic front-runner was “making up tapes and video which don’t exist”.

Hillary Clinton’s spokesman Brian Fallon told CNN: “Hell no. Hillary Clinton will not be apologizing to Donald Trump for correctly pointing out how his hateful rhetoric only helps [Islamic State] recruit more terrorists.”

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama told NPR that Donald Trump is “exploiting” the anger and fear among blue-collar men in the current US economy.

Economic and demographic changes in the country allows for Donald Trump to spread ideas, he said.

Of that fear and anxiety, “some of it [is] justified, but just misdirected,” Barack Obama said.

“I think somebody like Mr. Trump is taking advantage of that. That’s what he’s exploiting during the course of his campaign.”

NBC asked Donald Trump if he was holding Hillary Clinton to a double standard because he could not back up his own claim that people in New Jersey were cheering when the World Trade Center collapsed on 9/11.

Donald Trump said he had been “totally exonerated” from that and that he had been proven right.