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Donald Trump condemned by UK for retweeting anti-muslim videos

It wasn't Vanity Fair's video that angered the President. It was it its apology.

It wasn't Vanity Fair's video that angered the President. It was it its apology. Photo: Getty

US President Donald Trump has angered the British government after retweeting three inflammatory videos from a far-right UK group that regularly posts anti-Muslim content.

The videos, posted by Jayda Fransen, deputy leader of far-right, ultra-nationalist political group Britain First, depict purported Muslims assaulting people and, in one video, smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May condemned Mr Trump for retweeting the inflammatory videos, with a 10 Downing Street spokesman saying Thursday morning (AEST): “It is wrong for the President to have done this.” 

“Britain First seeks to divide communities through their use of hateful narratives which peddle lies and stoke tensions. They cause anxiety to law-abiding people,” he said.

“British people overwhelmingly reject the prejudiced rhetoric of the far-right which is the antithesis of the values that this country represents: decency tolerance and respect.”

The retweeted videos were still on Mr Trump’s Twitter page at the time of publication.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders defended Mr Trump’s retweets, saying he shared them to start a conversation about border security and immigration.

“I think his goal is to promote strong borders and strong national security,” Ms Sanders told reporters after appearing on Fox News.

Ms Sanders dismissed questions about whether the videos were authentic, saying “the threat is real”.

“That is what the President is talking about, that is what the President is focused on, is dealing with those real threats, and those are real no matter how you look at it,” she said.

As a presidential candidate, Mr Trump called for “a Muslim ban” and as president has issued executive orders banning entry for some citizens of multiple Muslim-majority countries, although courts have partially blocked them from taking effect.

Ms Fransen, along with the fringe group’s head, was arrested in September and charged with causing religiously aggravated harassment over the distribution of leaflets and posting online videos during the court trial involving the case of a number of Muslim men accused and later convicted of rape.

“Donald Trump himself has retweeted these videos and has around 44 million followers! God bless you Trump!” Ms Fransen posted in response. Her account has more than 52,000 followers .

The first tweet from Ms Fransen claimed to show a Muslim migrant attacking a man on crutches.

The original video was shared by US conservative commentator Ann Coulter, who Mr Trump follows.

Ms Fransen later posted a video praising Mr Trump asking him to help help her avoid conviction for religious harassment.

Mr Trump has weighed into British religious and ethnic sensibilities in the past.

The President attacked London Mayor Sadiq Khan for mishandling a militant attack just hours after it occurred.

He also misattributed a rise in crime in England and Wales to the “spread of radical Islamic terror”. 

– With agencies

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