--- ---  # Hillary Clinton Says She Won’t ‘Declare War’ on Islam After Orlando Shooting  by [Melissa Chan](https://time.com/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Updated: Dec 15, 2023 12:34 AM UTCPublished: Jun 13, 2016 12:47 PM UTC  Hillary Clinton is pictured here on June 10, 2016 in Washington, DC. Hillary Clinton is pictured here on June 10, 2016 in Washington, DC.Jennifer Graylock—WireImage  by [Melissa Chan](https://time.com/author/melissa-chan/)  ## Melissa Chan Updated: Dec 15, 2023 12:34 AM UTCPublished: Jun 13, 2016 12:47 PM UTC [Hillary Clinton](http://time.com/4365764/orlando-shooting-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/?xid=homepage) on Monday said [she will not “demonize” the religion of Islam](http://www.today.com/video/hillary-clinton-reacts-to-orlando-shooting-i-won-t-declare-war-on-a-religion-704380483647) by using the specific phrase “radical Islam” when discussing the Orlando nightclub massacre after [calls from Donald Trump to do so](http://time.com/4365567/donald-trump-orlando-shooting/). Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, responded to Trump’s criticism following [Sunday’s deadly mass shooting](http://time.com/4365988/orlando-shooting-omar-mateen-police-pulse/?xid=homepage) at Pulse Orlando during a telephone interview with NBC’s _Today_ show. “In my perspective, it matters what we do, not what we say,” Clinton said. “To me, radical jihadism, radical Islamism, I think they mean the same thing. I’m happy to say either, but that’s not the point.” “I’m not going to demonize … and declare war on an entire religion,” she added. “That’s just plain dangerous and it plays into ISIS’s hands.” Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, had slammed both Clinton and President Barack Obama for being “weak” for failing to describe the shooting as an act of “radical Islam.” “In his remarks today, President Obama disgracefully refused to even say the words ‘Radical Islam’. For that reason alone, he should step down,” Trump said in a statement Sunday. “If Hillary Clinton, after this attack, still cannot say the two words ‘Radical Islam’ she should get out of this race for the Presidency.” In a _Today_ interview on Monday, the mogul again renewed his call for a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. and reiterated his criticism against American leaders. “It’s insulting to our country that Obama doesn’t use the term radical Islamic terrorism,” Trump said. “He’s not addressing the issue, he’s not calling it what it is—radical Islamic terrorism.” Clinton also pushed for gun control Monday in a separate interview with CNN’s _New Day_. Authorities say Orlando nightclub shooter Omar Mateen used a handgun and an assault-type rifle during his attack. “Yes, there is a right for law-abiding, responsible Americans to own guns. And yes, there are reasonable common-sense measures to try to keep people safe from guns,” Clinton said. “We’ve got to figure out the best way to move forward on that.” Both Clinton and Trump are [expected to address the shooting](http://time.com/4365764/orlando-shooting-hillary-clinton-donald-trump/) in separate addresses Monday. 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