On Friday, the Republican presidential nominee argued it should have been clear that he wasn't being serious.

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"So I said 'the founder of ISIS,' obviously I'm being sarcastic," Trump said at the afternoon rally in Erie, using an acronym for the Islamic State. He added: "But not that sarcastic, to be honest with you."

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On Friday morning, Trump took to Twitter to accuse CNN of not understanding his remarks.

But when given a chance to explain his comments more fully in a Thursday interview with conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump stuck to his attack.

"Last night, you said the president was the founder of ISIS. I know what you meant. You meant that he created the vacuum, he lost the peace," Hewitt told Trump.

Trump responded: "No, I meant he’s the founder of ISIS. I do. He was the most valuable player. I give him the most valuable player award. I give her, too, by the way, Hillary Clinton."

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Hewitt noted that Obama has waged an effort against the Islamic State: "He’s not sympathetic to them. He hates them. He’s trying to kill them."

Trump responded: "I don’t care. He was the founder. His, the way he got out of Iraq was, that was the founding of ISIS."

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What is now known as the Islamic State was founded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and was active in Iraq by 2003, when Colin Powell, secretary of state at the time, mentioned him in a United Nations speech.

Trump argued Friday that his MVP comments should have signaled that he was being sarcastic.

The nominee was introduced in Erie by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus. He plans to hold a second rally in Altoona, Pa., later Friday.