The world took a moment to pause early Tuesday morning when reports of two bomb blasts in a crowded Brussels airport began flooding the airwaves and social media. People all over the world struggled to grasp the senseless violence after an estimated 31 people were killed and another 200 plus victims were wounded in the explosions which rocked the airport and a local subway station.
After the initial shock wore off and Americans began receiving a more complete picture of the attacks, it didn’t take long for presidential hopefuls to weigh in on the Belgium tragedy.
Do you all remember how beautiful and safe a place Brussels was. Not anymore, it is from a different world! U.S. must be vigilant and smart!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2016
Trump also said on the Today Show that tortures such as waterboarding were a necessary tactic to extract information from suspects, and also said that U.S. borders needed to be secure (even going so far as to suggest temporarily closing U.S. borders in an interview with Fox and Friends).
Senator Ted Cruz of Texas posted this lengthy response to the attacks to his supporters on Facebook and Twitter:
Our hearts break for the men and women of Brussels this morning. Make no mistake — these terror attacks are no isolated…
Posted by Ted Cruz on Tuesday, March 22, 2016
He also said on Fox News that ISIS had in effect declared war on Europe and the U.S. with their attacks, and also said in a statement that he would support strengthening the southern U.S. border and increased monitoring of Muslim neighborhoods to watch for radicalization.
Governor John Kasich of Ohio didn’t go so far, instead calling for President Obama to return home immediately, and also suggested that the U.S. “strengthen our alliances” to stop extremists.
Gov. John Kasich’s statement on the terrorist attacks in #Brussels. pic.twitter.com/6gwCCMwJcy
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) March 22, 2016
On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton shut down Trump’s outlandish plan to close all U.S. borders on the Today Show, calling the idea “unrealistic.”
“It’s unrealistic to say we’re going to completely shut down our borders” –@HillaryClinton on TODAY #Brussels https://t.co/Lgst4hZzPo
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) March 22, 2016
Bernie Sanders also issued a emotionally charged statement about the attacks, using adjectives like “cowardly” and “barbaric” to describe the terrorist attack.
Full Sanders statement on attacks in Belgium: pic.twitter.com/61Pn71tCAd
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) March 22, 2016
Of course, the man currently holding that highly sought after office also had a few things to say about the attacks. In an address to the Cuban people during his trip to Havana, President Obama called on world powers to unite in response to this terrible loss, saying that the U.S. “will do whatever is necessary to support our friend and ally Belgium in bringing to justice those who are responsible.”
You can read more of our coverage on the attacks here.