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In Florida, Trump Repeats Islamic State Accusations

(CN) — Donald Trump clapped for himself as he took the podium in the Sparkle Ballroom at Miami Beach's Fountainbleu on Thursday morning, before reiterating his opinion that President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are co-founders of the Islamic State group.

Speaking at the National Association of Home Builders board of directors meeting, the Republican presidential nominee began by championing the audience's industry in a knowing, avuncular manner.

"Homebuilding is very close to my heart," Trump said. "My father built homes in Brooklyn and Queens. That's how we started."

He spoke on how he sat on his father's knee, playing with blocks and listening in on business negotiations with plumbers and electricians.

"He didn't say listen, but I listened for so many years," Trump said. "By the time I was 14 or 15, I could build a home as good then as I could today."

Trump said, if elected, he would cut taxes and place a moratorium on regulations on the homebuilding industry, which he misidentified as the biggest business in the U.S. Health technology is actually the most profitable industry in the country, according to Forbes.

"Regulations are horrible," he said.

He then thanked high-profile Republican attendees like Florida Gov. Rick Scott, whom he called "fantastic" and a "great governor," and Attorney General Pam Bondi, "a spectacular person," before transitioning to remarks on "crooked Hillary."

A recent Quinnipiac poll showed Clinton beating Trump 46-45 percent, a less substantial lead than the 7 points the poll showed months ago.

"She's getting a little bit concerned," Trump said in a mocking tone.

He also accused her of giving short, teleprompter-fed speeches then going home to sleep.

"Oh boy is ISIS hoping for her," he said. "Can you imagine China?"

Trump also reiterated his recent claim that Clinton and President Barack Obama are co-founders of the Islamic State terrorist group.

"I call President Obama and Hillary Clinton the founders of ISIS," he told the audience.

Then he compared terrorism to a sporting event and said ISIS would hand Clinton the most valuable player award.

"Her only competition is Barack Obama," he said.

ISIS in fact started as al-Qaida-affiliated group in Iraq. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2006, is considered to be the group's founder.

Photo credit: Evan Vucci/Associated Press.

Photo caption: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves after speaking to the National Association of Home Builders, Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Miami Beach, Fla.

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