Calls Obama the “founder of ISIS” and Clinton the “co-founder”

On August 10–11, 2016, Trump escalated his anti-Obama and anti-Clinton rhetoric by repeatedly telling rally crowds that “Obama is the founder of ISIS” and that Hillary Clinton is the “co-founder,” insisting in interviews that he meant it literally before later retreating to claims of sarcasm. The Guardian, BBC, Reuters, Politico, and other outlets quote him saying that the terrorist group “honors” Obama and that he and Clinton “founded” ISIS, even though the organization arose from jihadist groups predating Obama’s presidency. By attributing the creation of a terrorist organization to political rivals and refusing to correct himself when challenged, Trump turned a complex history of regional wars and policy decisions into a simple conspiracy that painted his predecessors as traitorous enemies—an extreme form of disinformation that encouraged supporters to see Democratic leaders as aligned with terrorists rather than as legitimate opponents.

"He is the founder of ISIS. He founded ISIS. And I would say the co-founder would be crooked Hillary Clinton." — August 10–11, 2016 rally comments quoted across U.S. and international coverage, in which Trump said President Obama was the “founder of ISIS” and Hillary Clinton the “co‑founder,” and later insisted he meant it literally before claiming sarcasm.