Trump's unfounded tweet stoking fears about Muslim "prayer rugs," explained

[babylonsister]

Trump’s unfounded tweet stoking fears about Muslim “prayer rugs,” explained
Desperate times, desperate tweets.
By Aaron Rupar@atrupar Jan 18, 2019, 3:50pm EST


President Donald Trump on Friday posted an extremely dubious tweet alleging people from Muslim-majority countries are crossing the border with bad intentions, and leaving prayer rugs behind.

Citing a report that hinged on one anonymous source, Trump tweeted: “Border rancher: ‘We’ve found prayer rugs out here. It’s unreal.’ Washington Examiner.”

“People coming across the Southern Border from many countries, some of which would be a big surprise,” he added.

Link to tweet

That was indeed the headline of a Washington Examiner article published on Wednesday, but the story itself presents no evidence for its central claim beyond one anonymous account — and even if it were true, prayer rugs themselves pose no threat to national security.

It’s clear Trump was using the story to stoke fears about Muslims and shore up support for his proposed wall along the southern border, something he has said he is proud to shut down the government over. The partial shutdown began on December 22, and Trump hasn’t budged from the $5.7 billion for the wall he is demanding.

more...

https://www.vox.com/2019/1/18/18188476/trump-muslim-prayer-rugs-tweet-border

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Try sleeping pads or rugs.

Good gravy,do these Wing Nuts think we are Stupid or something. Don't have to answer.

Common item used in many foreign households in third world Nations.

[Kajun Gal]

2. A shiny object to deflect the news of the day.

[GusBob]

3. I read

It was an anonymous rancher
Story from 3 years ago
Same story told about Czech folks coming over
It was an adidas jersey

[emulatorloo]

4. Sounds like it was really an old soccer jersey (not a prayer rug)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211691213

[TeamPooka]

5. desert sunrise yoga mats, or sunset

[gratuitous]

6. Yeah, a Muslim is going to schlep a prayer rug over countless thousands of miles

Then drop it as soon as he crosses the border. McDonald's fear-mongering and nonsensical tweets are just so much like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortes' it's unbelievable.

[Sinistrous]

10. "fear mongering and nonsensical tweets" from AOC?

Please list a few of these tweets so that we of the ignorant class can share in your crystal-clear insights.

[gratuitous]

11. I was mocking Meghan McCain

Post and thread here:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211690867

[LanternWaste]

7. The idiot is reusing debunked stories from 2005

"We've found copies of the Koran, we have found prayer rugs, we have found a lot of stuff written in Arabic, so it's not just people from Mexico coming across that border," Tancredo, a Republican, explains...


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stopping-terror-at-the-border/

[Chickensoup]

8. If these objects are important to bring

With them half way across the glob,
then we they left them at the border???
These stories are garbage.

[SummerSnow]

9. His first name is fearmongering