The 2016 election has featured some heated debate about admitting refugees to the United States. Trump has called for “extreme vetting,” as well as a ban on immigrants from countries that are associated with terrorism.
He’s also criticized Hillary Clinton and President Obama for allowing Syrian refugees into the country, arguing that they are increasing the possibility of a terrorist attack in the United States by accepting refugees.
On Monday, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. took to Twitter to comment on the refugee issue, likening Syrian refugees to poisoned Skittles.
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 19, 2016
However, it appears that the message, which features an official Trump and Pence 2016 campaign logo, isn’t an original one, CNN reports.
Former Illinois Representative Joe Walsh actually Tweeted the same message a month ago on social media. Walsh, including a screenshot of his similar post, responded to Trump Jr., “Hey @DonaldTrumpJr, that’s the point I made last month. Glad you agree.”
Hey @DonaldJTrumpJr, that’s the point I made last month.
Glad you agree. pic.twitter.com/Nssw6KC1HY
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) September 20, 2016
Trump Jr.’s tweet caused outrage on social media. Jon Favreau, President Obama’s former speechwriter, responded to Trump Jr. and included the picture of Omran Daqneesh, a 5-year-old boy whose bloodied image brought home the horror of Syrian conflict to millions of people around the world.
Hey @DonaldJTrumpJr, this is one of the millions of children you compared to a poisoned Skittle today: https://t.co/SDSGw0eUIP pic.twitter.com/HuhY9RGvWW
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) September 20, 2016
Mars Candy, the parent company of Wrigley, who makes Skittles, released a statement on social media: “Skittles are candy; refugees are people. It’s an inappropriate analogy. We respectfully refrain from further comment, as that could be misinterpreted as marketing.”