WASHINGTON: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, known more for his bravado than for sound policy statements, did not specifically condemn Sunday’s terrorist attack in Lahore’s Gulshan-i-Iqbal park, but said on Monday that he alone can solve the issue.
Trump, who has made headlines for spewing anti-Muslim rhetoric during his presidential campaign, tweeted about the ‘radical attack’ in Lahore targeting Christians, claiming he alone can solve the issue, without clarifying what issue he was referring to.
Related: Trump unveils first TV campaign ad, urges ban on Muslims
The Republican front-runner, however, did not specifically condemn the attack or express sorrow over the blast.
At least 72 people were killed in the suicide blast on Sunday. The attack was condemned by politicians and celebrities around the world, who took to social media to express sorrow and anger over the tragedy.
Related: At least 70 dead after suicide attack in Lahore park
The real estate tycoon, who is funding his own campaign, has dominated the media spotlight since the start of his campaign due to his bombastic and provocative style.
Trump’s first television advertisement created a lot of controversy as it demanded a ban on Muslims entering the United States (US) while vowing to decapitate the militant Islamic State (IS) group.
The Republican front-runner had also promised to build a wall along the Mexican border from Texas to California and expel 11 million people who are in the country illegally if he wins the November US election.
Last month, Pope Francis, during his visit to Mexico, expressed disapproval for Trump’s views by saying that a person who thinks only about building walls and not building bridges, is not Christian.
Asked if American Catholics should vote for someone with Trump’s views, Francis had said: “I am not going to get involved in that. I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and in this I give the benefit of the doubt,” he said.
Trump, however, responded with a Facebook post maintaining that the pope would have wished Trump was president if IS attacked the Vatican.
