DHAKA: Donald Trump accused President Barack Obama on Wednesday of founding the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that is wreaking havoc from the Middle East to European cities.

A moment later, on another topic, he emphasized the president’s full legal name: Barack Hussein Obama.

“In many respects, you know, they honor President Obama,” Trump said during a raucous campaign rally outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “He is the founder of ISIS.”

He repeated the allegation three times.

“He’s the founder of ISIS, okay?” he added. “He’s the founder. He founded ISIS.”

Trump has long blamed Obama and his former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for pursuing Middle East policies that created a power vacuum in Iraq that was exploited by ISIS.

He has sharply criticized Obama for announcing that he would pull US troops out of Iraq, a decision that many Obama critics say created the kind of instability in which groups such as ISIS thrive.

The White House declined to comment on Trump’s accusation.

The former property mogul and reality TV star went on to criticize Clinton, his Democratic party rival for the presidency.

“And I would say, the co-founder would be crooked Hillary Clinton,” he said.

The Republican presidential nominee has in the past accused Clinton of “founding” the group.

BDST: 1540 HRS, AUG 11, 2016
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