Al Qaeda recruits using video of Trump

Al Qaeda’s branch in Somalia released a recruitment video Friday that criticized racism and anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States and contained footage of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announcing his proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States.

The video, released by the militant group Al Shabab, appeared to be the first time that Trump was featured in jihadi recruitment material. During a Democratic presidential debate last month, Hillary Clinton said Trump had been used in a recruitment video for the Islamic State group, a claim that was later debunked.

Al Qaeda and Islamic State are rival jihadi groups that compete for recruits and money among radicalized Muslims.

Representatives for the Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

The video was part of a series dedicated to Somali-American jihadis from Minnesota and one Canadian who died on the battlefield in Somalia. The video was authenticated by the SITE Intelligence Group, which studies jihadi propaganda, and it appeared to be aimed at the black community.

Citing “historical injustices” against black Americans, the video urged them to convert to Islam and engage in jihad at home or abroad.

The video includes footage of Trump in front of a poster bearing his campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”

“So remember this, so listen, Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” Trump said.