An ex-jihadist who reformed his ways says President Donald Trump is right to call such groups a bunch of “evil losers.”

Mubin Shaikh, a Canadian citizen who helps the intelligence community combat Islamic terrorism, told CNN on Friday that Mr. Trump’s broader framing of the debate is “exactly right.” The president told reporters after Monday’s concert massacre in Manchester, England, that it is wrong to use pejoratives that terrorists might embrace.

“So many young, beautiful innocent people living and enjoying their lives murdered by evil losers in life,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday while in Bethlehem with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. “I won’t call them monsters because they would like that term. They would think that’s a great name. I will call them from now on losers because that’s what they are. They’re losers. […] Just remember that.”

Mr. Shaikh told CNN’s Brooke Baldwin that Mr. Trump’s rhetorical strategy is correct.

“It depends on what kind of acolyte you’re dealing with,” the guest said, The Daily Caller reported. “But look, your president was exactly right. At the base of it, they’re murderers is what they are. They’re not martyrs. They’re not heroes. In order to delegitimize and demystify this idea […] there are the phrases we need to use. Losers — you know, low-lives, scum bags, whatever you want. They all apply.”

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