President Obama defended his refusal to use the term “Islamic terrorism” during Wednesday night’s town hall on CNN, saying it’s a term that has been “sort of manufactured” and that there’s no way to tie these acts to the Muslim faith.

Host Jake Tapper introduced a gold star mother who lost her 19-year-old son, Cpl. Aaron D. Gautier, during the Iraq war in 2007. Tina Houchins asked the president why he still refuses to tie the religion that inspires the very acts of terror her son gave his life fighting against.

“The truth of the matter is that this is an issue that has been sort of manufactured,” Obama said. “Because there is no doubt, and I’ve said repeatedly, that where we see terrorist organizations like al Qaeda or ISIL, they have perverted and distorted and tried to claim the mantle of Islam for an excuse for, basically, barbarism and death.”

“These are people who kill children, kill Muslims, take sex slaves — there's’ no religious rationale that would justify in any way any of the things that they do,” he added. “But, what I have been careful about when I describe these issues is to make sure that we do not lump these murderers into the billion Muslims that exist around the world, including in this country, who are peaceful, who are responsible, who in this country are our fellow troops and police officers and firefighters and teachers and neighbors and friends.”

The president then explained some other reasons why he won’t tie terrorism to Islam: it makes “peaceful” Muslims around the world uncomfortable:

“When you start calling these organizations ‘Islamic terrorists,’ the way it’s heard, the way it’s received by our friends and allies around the world, is that somehow Islam is terroristic. And that, then, makes them feel as if they’re under attack. In some cases, it makes it harder for us to get their cooperation in fighting terrorism.”

With the apologetics aside, Obama then claimed that using the phrase “Islamic terrorism” is really not “a huge deal.” He at least recognizes these groups do the acts in the name of Islam, but it’s just that he doesn’t want to be the one “validating” their actions with by using the term. As an example, Obama said he would do the same thing if it were a group blowing away innocents in the name of Christianity, he wouldn’t call them Christian terrorists.

“As a Christian, I’m not going to let them claim my religion and say you’re killing for Christ,” Obama said. “I would say, ‘That’s ridiculous, that’s not what my religion stands for.’ Call these folks what they are which is killers and terrorists.”

It wouldn’t be a moment with Obama without a veiled crack at the Republican presidential nominee. He warned against the dangers of getting “loose with this language” especially as president or “people aspiring to be president” making comments about Muslim Americans and proposing religious tests or deciding who can come into this country. 

Tapper called him out, saying, “You were clearly talking about the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, just then.”

“No, I wasn’t,” Obama retorted sharply. He then stuttered through a defense that these ideas aren’t unique to Trump. After all, as he said, he isn’t trying to insert partisan politics into this conversation.

Nah, not at all.

In case you missed it, here’s Obama’s appearance on Wheel of Fortune:

H/T Daily Wire