Pres denounces use of faith by ISIS - calling it "a brutal, vicious death cult"...perpetrating evil in the name of religion. - Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 5, 2015

Pres Obama also reminds that terrible deeds during the Crusades - and slavery - all too often justified in the name of Christ. - Mark Knoller (@markknoller) February 5, 2015

15 PHOTOS Obama National Prayer Breakfast outrage - VIDEO IN FIRST will autoplay if embeded, be careful if bottom or middle of page See Gallery Outrage after Obama compares ISIS to the Crusades in comments at National Prayer Breakfast Obama's National Prayer Breakfast speech Thursday was criticized after he compared the actions of ISIS to slavery in the U.S. and the Crusades. ISIS chops off heads, incinerates hostages, kills gays, enslaves girls. Obama: Blame the Crusades. http://t.co/ifTnJGw2wJ I am shocked, shocked that the guy who sat in Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years would defend Islamic violence by attacking Christianity. So Obama's not interested in fighting radical Islam today because of stuff Christians did in the 11th Century. #NationalPrayerBreakfast And just watch as Obama pulls a Sally Kohn. Via @markknoller I have had with with equivocating. SERIOUSLY had it. http://t.co/zW6NmeYk6r So Obama's not interested in fighting radical Islam today because of stuff Christians did in the 11th Century. #NationalPrayerBreakfast Which religion is this we're alluding to, chief? What were the Crusades in response to, again? I forget. Yes, let's pretend Islam had nothing to do w/ the Crusades as well. Cool beans. @markknoller @SmokeNMirrors71 .@markknoller When you have to go back that far for an example, you've made the point that Christianity doesn't engage in such behavior. @markknoller Exactly. Because 200-1000 years ago is SO relevant to SAVAGERY in THIS day and age. #JustTheSame 800 yrs ago. MT @markknoller: Obama reminds that terrible deeds during Crusades- and slavery -all too often justified in the name of Christ. @markknoller as I recall the Muslims committed heinous acts during the Crusades as well. Christians should not take all the blame. @markknoller @hboulware Comparing contemporary Islam to the worst horrors of the Dark Ages sounds about right to me too. Dude, Benghazi was a long time ago, but let's have a national conversation about The Crusades. Up Next See Gallery Discover More Like This HIDE CAPTION SHOW CAPTION of SEE ALL BACK TO SLIDE

By RYAN GORMAN President Barack Obama set off a firestorm Thursday morning by comparing ISIS barbarity to the Crusades.Obama recalled the savagery carried out nearly 1,000 years ago in the name of Christ while speaking at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., but his equivocation fell on outraged ears.The president railed against the Islamic State, calling it "a brutal, vicious death cult" that slaughters and enslaves innocents all in the name of religion.His next comments, which recalled "terrible deeds ... including slavery" that happened during the Crusades and were "justified in the name of Christ."He then said: "We are summoned to push back against those who would distort our religion for their nihilistic ends."By "our religion," Obama meant any religion, veteran White House reporter Mark Knoller noted on Twitter, but several people took exception to the remark, wondering aloud on Twitter which religion the president was referring to."Our nation is stronger when people of all faiths feel they are welcome," Obama continued. "So humility is needed."Reaction to the remarks was swift and fierce. Conservative firebrand Michelle Malkin led the charge."ISIS chops off heads, incinerates hostages, kills gays, enslaves girls. Obama: Blame the Crusades," she wrote on Twitter.Another conservative pundit, Dereck Hale, also vented his outrage on Twitter."I am shocked, shocked that the guy who sat in Jeremiah Wright's church for 20 years would defend Islamic violence by attacking Christianity," tweeted Hale."So Obama's not interested in fighting radical Islam today because of stuff Christians did in the 11th Century," conservative media watchdog Matt Philbin tweeted.Several people also pointed out the Crusades were in response to violence perpetrated by Muslims."Yes, let's all pretend Islam had nothing to do with the Crusades," J.R. Holmstead angrily wrote on Twitter."Did the [president] happen to mention the reason for those crusades," another person asked.Several people pointed out the Crusades happened 800-1,000 years ago."When you have to go back that far for an example, you've made the point that Christianity doesn't engage in such behavior," R.D. Brewer tweeted.Obama may or may not address the reaction to his controversial comparison, but that likely will not keep conservatives from hammering him for it."I have had [it] with equivocating," tweeted Stacey Lennox. "SERIOUSLY had it."