Blumenthal: Trump Rhetoric ‘a Factor’ in New Zealand Massacre

Friday on CNN’s “New Day,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said President Donald Trump’s rhetoric was “a factor” in the mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques that left 49 dead. Partial transcript as follows: BLUMENTHAL: A heartbreaking day, and of course our prayers go out to the people of New Zealand, particularly the loved ones and survivors and victims. But words do have consequences and we know that at the very pinnacle of power in our own country people are talking about good people on both sides. CAMEROTA: You mean the president talking about it. I mean I know it’s hard to call this out. I’ve heard this from a guest this morning, they’re having a hard time calling this out for some reason. BLUMENTHAL: I think it’s more than the president. It’s the people who enable him and who fail to stand up to him and speak out. And we’re seeing some glimmers of spine now in the United States Congress, some of my colleagues in the last three votes standing up to him and saying no to his trampling on the Constitution. But it is also more than words. The president has defied Constitutional norms and principles in declaring a