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Obama Just Slammed Republican Leaders For Their Hypocritical Stances On Trump

by John Haltiwanger
REUTERS

President Obama just ripped into Donald Trump and the Republican leaders who continue to support him.

In what was perhaps his most direct critique of Trump yet, the president said the real estate mogul is "unfit to serve as president," and "he keeps on proving it."

The president was particularly critical of Donald Trump's attacks on the family of Captain Humayun Khan, a fallen Muslim American soldier.

President Obama then called out the hypocrisy of leading Republicans, like House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator John McCain, who repeatedly condemn Trump's rhetoric and remarks but continue to endorse him.

The president said,

The question they have to ask themselves is: If you are repeatedly having to say in very strong terms that what he has said is unacceptable, why are you still endorsing him? What does it say about your party that this is your standard bearer? This isn't a situation where you have an episodic gaffe. This is daily and weekly where they are distancing themselves from statements [Trump is making]. There has to be a point at which you say, this is not somebody I can support for president of the United States, even if he purports to be a member of my party. The fact that that has not yet happened makes some of these denunciations ring hollow.

President Obama has a point. Republican leaders, like Senator John McCain, who was extremely critical of Donald Trump on Monday for his comments toward the Khans, should either back away from Trump altogether or stop criticizing his rhetoric.

When you endorse someone for president, it signifies you stand by what he or she says and stands for. So, no matter how often these Republicans try to back away from Trump's statements, it means nothing as long as their endorsements remain in place.