The 2016 presidential candidates reacted to President Obama’s Oval Office speech on ISIS Sunday night.
“This is not a time for ideological silliness,” Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said in a statement. “This is a time for serious action because the future security of our country is at stake.”
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said the speech attempted to switch the focus to gun control.
“The #Obamaspeech was an attempt to turn a necessary discussion on terrorism and national security into a ineffective gun control debate,” Paul wrote on Twitter.
The #Obamaspeech was an attempt to turn a necessary discussion on terrorism and national security into a ineffective gun control debate.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 7, 2015
Donald Trump criticized the president’s use of the term “ISIL” to describe the Islamic State.
“Wish Obama would say ISIS, like almost everyone else, rather than ISIL,” the billionaire tweeted.
Wish Obama would say ISIS, like almost everyone else, rather than ISIL.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
“Is that all there is? We need a new President – FAST!”
Is that all there is? We need a new President – FAST!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders, meanwhile, praised Obama’s decision not to send troops into Syria.
“We must learn the lesson of Iraq,” Sanders said. “American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East.”
We must learn the lesson of Iraq. American troops should not be engaged in perpetual warfare in the Middle East.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 7, 2015



