Trump tweets NYC terror attack suspect “SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY”

President Trump tweeted late Wednesday that New York City terror attack suspect Sayfullo Saipov “SHOULD GET DEATH PENALTY.” 

Saipov appeared in court Wednesday in a wheelchair with his hands and feet shackled. Federal prosecutors have charged him with two terrorism counts.

Investigators say Saipov on Tuesday drove a rented truck along a Manhattan bicycle path, mowing down pedestrians and cyclists until the truck collided with a school bus at a nearby intersection. Eight people were killed and 12 were injured. 

After the collision, Saipov allegedly exited the truck and yelled “Allah Akbar” — Arabic for God is great. He was shot by a police officer shortly afterward and was taken to a local hospital. 

Jane Rosenberg

According to the criminal complaint, Saipov had been planning the attack for months and chose to carry it out on Halloween because he believed there would be more people outside. He also told investigators he believed the attack was a success — and he asked to fly the ISIS flag in his hospital room.

Federal prosecutors say Saipov was “consumed by hate and a twisted ideology.”

Mr. Trump, a native of New York City, has been outspoken about Tuesday’s attack. In a series of tweets Tuesday night, he called Saipov a “sick and deranged person” and then wrote “we must not allow ISIS to return.” In a later tweet, he called for an “Extreme Vetting Program.”

On Wednesday, Mr. Trump called for an end to the Diversity Visa Lottery Program, the federal program through which Saipov entered the U.S. He blamed the program on New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, who was not yet in the Senate when it was adopted, and called it a “Chuck Schumer beauty.” In fact, Schumer advocated to end the program as part of an immigration reform bill in 2013. 

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Sen. says Trump’s response to NYC attack concerns him

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware says he’s concerned by the president’s quick response to the terror attack in New York City. He joined CB…

Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) told CBS News’ Elaine Quijano on Wednesday that he is “concerned” that Mr. Trump’s immediate response was to “go on the attack.” 

“I frankly wish the president would focus on things that would bring us together and things that would make us safer,” Coons said. 

Presidents are usually advised to stay away from speaking about ongoing cases because defense lawyers can argue it will influence a jury. In fact, lawyers for Bowe Bergdahl, who pleaded guilty in October to desertion and endangering the troops who were sent to search for him, have argued for a lighter sentence in light of Mr. Trump calling him a “traitor” on the campaign trail.