US presidential candidates condemn the Brussels attacks
The bombings killed more than 30 people and injured more than 120 others
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Your support makes all the difference.The 2016 US presidential candidates have responded to the terror attacks in Brussels.
The bombings occurred hours ahead of the Arizona, Utah and Idaho primaries on Tuesday, so surely the American candidates took time to condemn the attacks, offer condolences and politicise the tragedy to cash in on votes.
More than 30 people were killed in the attacks and roughly 120 others were wounded. Here's how the presidential hopefuls reacted:
Hillary Clinton
“Terrorists have once again struck at the heart of Europe, but their campaign of hate and fear will not succeed. The people of Brussels, of Europe, and of the world will not be intimidated by these vicious killers. Today Americans stand in solidarity with our European allies. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those killed and wounded, and all the people of Belgium," Clinton said in a statement.
"These terrorists seek to undermine the democratic values that are the foundation of our alliance and our way of life, but they will never succeed. Today's attacks will only strengthen our resolve to stand together as allies and defeat terrorism and radical jihadism around the world.”
She also seemed to take a swipe at Donald Trump on Twitter after his response to the bombings.
Bernie Sanders
“We offer our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this barbaric attack and to the people of Brussels who were the target of another cowardly attempt to terrorize innocent civilians," Sanders wrote in a statement.
"We stand with our European allies to offer any necessary assistance in these difficult times. Today’s attack is a brutal reminder that the international community must come together to destroy Isis. This type of barbarism cannot be allowed to continue.”
Donald Trump
"I will tell you, I've been talking about this a long time, and look at Brussels," Trump said on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends.”
"Brussels was a beautiful city, a beautiful place with zero crime. And now it's a disaster city. It's a total disaster, and we have to be very careful in the United States, we have to be very careful and very vigilant as to who we allow in this country."
"Well I'm not looking to break any news on your show, but frankly the waterboarding, if it was up to me, and if we changed the laws or have the laws, waterboarding would be fine," Trump said on NBC's "Today" show. "I would say they should be able to do whatever they have to do."
On Twitter, Trump made a last ditch influence Tuesday’s primaries: “I have proven to be far more correct about terrorism than anybody- and it’s not even close. Hopefully AZ and UT will be voting for me today!”
Ted Cruz
"Our hearts break for the men and women of Brussels this morning. Make no mistake — these terror attacks are no isolated incidents. They are just the latest in a string of coordinated attacks by radical Islamic terrorists perpetrated by those who are waging war against all who do not accept their extreme strain of Islam," Cruz said in a statement.
"Radical Islam is at war with us. For over seven years we have had a president who refuses to acknowledge this reality. And the truth is, we can never hope to defeat this evil so long as we refuse to even name it. That ends on January 20, 2017, when I am sworn in as president. We will name our enemy — radical Islamic terrorism. And we will defeat it."
John Kasich
"I want to express my solidarity with the people of Belgium in the aftermath of the attacks that took place in Brussels. Along with every American, I am sickened by the pictures of the carnage, by the injuries and by the loss of life. The wave of terror that has been unleashed in Europe and elsewhere around the world are attacks against our very way of life and against the democratic values upon which our political systems have been built," Kasich said in a statement.
"We and our allies must rededicate ourselves to these values of freedom and human rights. We must utterly reject the use of deadly acts of terror."
"We must also redouble our efforts with our allies to identify, root out and destroy the perpetrators of such acts of evil. We must strengthen our alliances as our way of life and the international system that has been built on our common values since the end of the Second World War comes under challenge from these and other actors of evil. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the attacks and with the people of Belgium."