Trump mocks name Mohammad at Georgia rally while attacking Iran
Why it matters: The remark adds to criticism from Muslim advocacy groups over rhetoric they say fuels Islamophobia during the midterm campaign.
President Donald Trump joked about the popularity of the name Mohammad during a campaign rally in Dalton, Georgia, while ridiculing Iran’s presidency. Speaking in a hangar at Dalton Municipal Airport on Oct. 16, Trump told the crowd that if someone was unsure of a Middle Eastern name, they should guess “Mohammad,” claiming a roughly 65% chance of being right. He then mocked Iran by saying it was the only country where nobody wanted to be president and referenced Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The crowd responded tepidly. Muslim advocacy groups and rights advocates have repeatedly criticized Trump’s rhetoric about Muslims, immigrants and minorities. Reuters reported that CAIR linked rising Islamophobia in the United States partly to Trump administration actions during his second term.