Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Donald Trump’s son claims waterboarding ‘no different to what happens in college frat houses’

Like father like son...

Olivia Blair
Tuesday 09 February 2016 08:10 EST
Comments
Eric Trump on waterboarding

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Donald Trump’s son, Eric, has backed his father’s recent support of waterboarding by playing down use of the interrogation method widely considered to be torture, suggesting it’s “no different to what happens in college frat houses”.

On Sunday, during a Republican candidacy debate in New Hampshire ahead of the crucial vote there on Tuesday, Trump said of the controversial interrogation technique: “I would bring back waterboarding and I’d bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding”.

Now his 32-year-old son, who is an Executive Vice President of The Trump Organisation and founder of the Eric Trump Foundation, supported his father’s sentiments during a discussion with Fox News.

When asked about the comments, Eric told host Greta Van Susteren: “You see those these terrorists that are flying planes into buildings, right? You see our cities getting shot up in California. You see Paris being shot up and then somebody complains when terrorists get waterboarded which quite frankly is no different to what happens in college frat houses every day.”

He continued: “The man would keep this country safe, there’s no doubt about it.”

Quite what he was referring to at college fraternity houses wasn’t made clear, but many stories have emerged of initiation rituals and hazings at frat house across America.

Waterboarding mimics the sensation of drowning and was used by the CIA after 09/11 during the so-called War on Terror.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in