Newt Gingrich defended himself Friday over comments on Muslims that the White House panned as "un-American," arguing President Obama wasn't qualified to criticize him.



"Obama's attack on me would be more impressive if he had ANY plan to defeat Islamic supremacist," the former GOP Speaker tweeted. "8 years of failure disqualify him as a critic."



Gingrich in another tweet accused the president of "risking American lives" while criticizing the Obama administration's plans to vet Syrian refugees being relocated into the U.S.

Obama's attack on me would be more impressive if he had ANY plan to defeat Islamic supremacist.8 years of failure disqualify him as a critic — Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) July 15, 2016 I challenge President Obama to share with us a serious plan to screen out terrorists from the Syrian refugees.he is risking American lives — Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) July 15, 2016

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The former Speaker, responding to the terrorist attack in Nice, France, on Thursday night, said Muslims who believe in Shariah should be deported.

Obama called Gingrich's idea for a test on Muslims "repugnant." White House press secretary Josh Earnest called for Gingrich to "consult his copy of the pocket Constitution."

“We cannot give into fear or turn on each other or sacrifice our way of life,” Obama said. “We cannot let ourselves be divided by religion, because that is exactly what the terrorists want. We should never do their work for them.”