Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said at New Hampshire event that there is ‘discrimination of every kind’ in the US

Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio criticized Barack Obama on Wednesday for giving a speech at a mosque that focused on discrimination against Muslims.



“I’m tired of being divided against each other for political reasons like this president’s done,” Rubio, a senator from Florida, said at a town hall in New Hampshire. “Always pitting people against each other. Always.”

“Look at today: he gave a speech at a mosque. Oh, you know, basically implying that America is discriminating against Muslims. Of course there’s discrimination in America, of every kind. But the bigger issue is: radical Islam. And by the way, radical Islam poses a threat to Muslims themselves.”

Obama marked his first visit to a mosque as president on Wednesday, addressing thousands of attendees at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. The president used the speech to emphasize the contributions of Muslims to American society, while urging those in the Muslim community to speak out against terrorism.



Obama also condemned what he said was “inexcusable political rhetoric” on the part of Republican presidential candidates, referring to Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims and suggestions by others that there should be a religious test for Syrian and Iraqi refugees.



A spokesperson for Rubio did not immediately return a request for comment when asked if the Florida senator had seen Obama’s speech.



Jeb Bush, the former Florida governor, acknowledged he hadn’t seen Obama’s remarks but said the mosque visit was “appropriate”.



“If it was a good speech, I’m happy, because I think it’s important for the president to lead in this regard,” Bush told conservative radio show Hugh Hewitt. Hewitt offered rare praise for the president, deeming it “a superb speech”, to which Bush responded: “Sometimes, you have to give someone credit for a job well done.”

Bush also criticized the signal Trump’s proposed Muslim ban sends “to the millions of peaceful Muslims that are as American as you and I.” Bush’s brother, George W Bush, had also given a speech at a mosque that was centered around tolerance. Speaking days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Bush had said: “Islam is peace.”

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Barack Obama at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. Photograph: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Obama touched upon similar themes in his remarks on Wednesday, saying he did not want to give “legitimacy” to the warped view of Islam perpetrated by terrorists. He also made a direct appeal to young Muslims who may feel disenfranchised in the current climate.



“Let me say as clearly as I can as president of the United States: you fit right here,” Obama said. “You’re right where you belong. You’re part of America too. You’re not Muslim or American. You’re Muslim and American.”

Rubio has been critical of Obama’s tone on such matters before, offering a congruous reaction when the president used a national security address after the terrorist attack in San Bernardino to push for unity and acceptance of peaceful Muslims.

“Where is there widespread evidence that we have a problem in America with discrimination against Muslims,” Rubio said in an interview at the time.