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DONALD TRUMP: I call President Obama and Hillary Clinton the founders of ISIS. They're the founders.
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ATHENA JONES: Donald Trump refusing to back down from his latest controversy.
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TRUMP: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, these are the founders of ISIS.
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JONES: Despite growing concern within the Republican Party about the effect his rhetoric could have on vulnerable congressional races.
[...]
Sources tell CNN that RNC chairman Reince Priebus denied he was considering shifting funds from Trump's presidential bid to down ballot races, but he did speak to Trump about his tone. This after Trump spent an entire day repeating a false claim that President Obama literally is the founder of ISIS.
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TRUMP: I meant he's the founder of ISIS. I do. He was the most valuable player. I give him the most valuable player award.
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JONES: Back in February, during a CNN town hall, Trump placed the blame for the rise of ISIS squarely on the Iraq War.
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TRUMP: The war in Iraq started the whole destabilization of the Middle East. It started ISIS. It started Libya. It started Syria. In all fairness, [George W.] Bush made the decision.
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