Key facts
- Trump suggested saying 'Mohammad' to identify people from the Middle East.
- The joke received a muted response from the Georgia crowd.
- Trump has previously been criticized for rhetoric targeting Muslims and immigrants.
US President Donald Trump joked about the popularity of the name Mohammad in the Muslim world during a campaign speech in Dalton, Georgia, on Friday. He suggested that saying 'Mohammad' would give a 65% chance of correctly identifying someone from the Middle East. Trump made the remarks while discussing Iran and campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The crowd's response to the joke was muted. Rights advocates and Muslim advocacy groups have previously criticized Trump for rhetoric they say demonizes Muslims and immigrants. He has escalated such rhetoric during the midterm campaign season, targeting Somali and Muslim Americans. Trump also reiterated his vow that Iran would never obtain a nuclear weapon.