Donald Trump

Muslim Professor at Brooklyn College Has Most RT'd Tweet During Debate

What to Know

  • By early Monday, the professor's tweet had more than 67,500 RTs
  • It came in response to Trump answering a question about Islamophobia and his proposed ban on Muslims entering the country
  • Earlier in the night, Trump had repeatedly insulted and attacked Clinton, calling her the "devil" and a "liar"

The non fly swat and the audience member in a red sweater generated plenty of social media buzz during the second presidential debate Sunday night, but no tweet was more popular than one from a Muslim author and professor at Brooklyn College. 

The tweet posted by Moustafa Bayoumi, which had more than 1,260 RTs at 10:44 p.m. Sunday, making it the most retweeted tweet during the debate, according to Twitter, came in response to Donald Trump answering a question about Islamophobia and his proposed ban on Muslims entering the country. 

Trump said "people are coming into our country like we have no idea who they are," and called immigration "the great Trojan horse of all time." 

He said his "extreme vetting" plan would curb what he described as a problem.

Trump, who earlier unleashed a barrage of attacks and insults on Clinton and continually interrupted her, also called for Muslims in America to step forward when they see illegal activity or bias. 

"When they see hatred going on, they have to report it," the Republican presidential nominee said. 

So that's what Bayoumi, author of "This Muslim American Life & How Does It Feel To Be a Problem," among other works, according to his Twitter profile, did. 

"I'm a Muslim, and I would like to report a crazy man threatening a woman on a stage in Missouri. #debate," Bayoumi wrote. 

By early Monday, his tweet had more than 67,500 RTs and nearly 115,000 likes. 

The Twitterverse quickly deemed Bayoumi the winner of the debate, with some users calling his comment the "best tweet ever." 

Bayoumi said he never expected his tweet to take center stage.

"It was just a tweet," he said, though he added, "I try to make all of my tweets clever."

Bayoumi said he was struck by the way Trump lurked behind Clinton as the former secretary of state answered questions.

“He was very menacing in his body language so I was noticing that -- and then when he started talking about how Muslims have to report things, it just seemed like an ideal time to talk about him being a menacing figure.”

The debate was the culmination of a stunning stretch in the race for the White House, which began with the release of a new video in which Trump is heard bragging about how his fame allowed him to "do anything" to women. Many Republicans rushed to revoke their support, with some calling for him to drop out of the race. 

Clinton declared Trump's aggressively vulgar comments about women revealed "exactly who he is" and clearly demonstrated his unsuitability to be president. Firing back, Trump accused Clinton of attacking women involved in her husband's extramarital affairs and declared she would "be in jail" if he were president. He repeatedly called her a "liar," labeled her the "devil" and contended she had "tremendous hate in her heart." 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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