Washington (CNN) Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar said President Donald Trump's rhetoric exacerbated tensions and called for him to condemn bigotry against Muslims.

"I don't think you can actually take each of the murderous acts and say what role Donald Trump played, but I can tell you this: his rhetoric doesn't help," Klobuchar said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday. "And many of these people, whether it was the person who tried to bomb Barack Obama or this murderer in New Zealand, have cited Donald Trump along the way."

Klobuchar spoke with CNN from Iowa as she vies for her party's presidential nomination to challenge Trump next year. She said after the recent attack on Muslims in New Zealand, it was "on all of us to condemn this hate," including Trump.

"He, at the very least, should be giving strong statements, public speeches, defending Muslims in this world," Klobuchar said.

Trump said on Friday after the shooting he had called New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, but when asked about white nationalism, he said he did not regard it as a growing threat.

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