Donald Trump was criticized for not correcting a questioner at an event Thursday night in Rochester, N.H., who said that President Obama is Muslim.
On Saturday morning, Trump used Twitter to defend his non-response to that questioner. Essentially he said it’s up to President Obama to defend himself.
Am I morally obligated to defend the president every time somebody says something bad or controversial about him? I don't think so!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
This is the first time in my life that I have caused controversy by NOT saying something.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
If someone made a nasty or controversial statement about me to the president, do you really think he would come to my rescue? No chance!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
If I would have challenged the man, the media would have accused me of interfering with that man's right of free speech. A no win situation!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
Christians need support in our country (and around the world), their religious liberty is at stake! Obama has been horrible, I will be great
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2015
On Thursday night, the first questioner at the New Hampshire event that Trump called on said:
‘‘We have a problem in this country. It’s called Muslims. We know our current president is one,’’ the man said of Obama, who is Christian. ‘‘You know he’s not even an American.’’
The man then talked about rumored training camps run by militants in the United States.
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Trump responded to that part of the man’s remarks:
‘‘We’re going to be looking at a lot of different things. And you know, a lot of people are saying that, and a lot of people are saying that bad things are happening out there,’’ said Trump. ‘‘We’re going to be looking at that and plenty of other things.’’
Other candidates have weighed in. Lindsey Graham, GOP senator from South Carolina, said via Twitter, ‘There is a right way to handle these situations and a wrong way to handle these situations, Donald.’’
Chris Christie, the governor of New Jersey, said he would correct someone who said something like that at one of his events. But he also said that Trump would have to decide how to react. ‘‘I'm not going to lecture him about what to do.’’
Trump’s response came Saturday morning.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.