The only thing more terrifying than the devastating scenes in Berlin yesterday is the reaction of the soon-to-be President of the United States to the events.
Hours after the deadly truck crash in Berlin, with the country’s wounds laid bare, Trump jumped back on the populist bandwagon and issued a statement of intent ahead of his inauguration.
He moved for a policy of division, blaming “Islamist terrorists” who targeted “innocent” Christians as they “prepared to celebrate the Christmas holiday.”
The war of words was there for all to see, with sensationalist claims made to provoke an emotional rather than logical response from those who are still in shock at the recent events.
The President elect said: “Our hearts and prayers are with the loved ones of the victims of today’s horrifying terror attack in Berlin,” Trump said. “Innocent civilians were murdered in the streets as they prepared to celebrate the Christmas holiday. ISIS and other Islamist terrorists continually slaughter Christians in their communities and places of worship as part of their global jihad. These terrorists and their regional and worldwide networks must be eradicated from the face of the earth, a mission we will carry out with all freedom-loving partners.”
He also later Tweeted:
Today there were terror attacks in Turkey, Switzerland and Germany – and it is only getting worse. The civilized world must change thinking!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2016
Germany’s interior minister, Thomas de Maizière, urged caution, saying: “There is a psychological effect in the whole country of the choice of words here, and we want to be very, very cautious and operate close to the actual investigation results, not with speculation.”
But you sense Trump has issued a statement of intent. This is the war of the words, which could soon become the war of the Worlds.