Seddique Mateen, Father Of Orlando Nightclub Shooter, Omar Mateen, Explains Why He Attended Rally For Hillary Clinton In Florida

Seddique Mateen, father of the infamous Orlando nightclub shooter, Omar Mateen, recently attended a rally for Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. The rally took place in Kissimmee, Florida, on Monday, less than 35 minutes south of Orlando. Saddique Mateen was actually caught on camera smiling, cheering, and standing behind Hillary Clinton. NBC affiliate WPTV, NewsChannel 5, out of South Florida, interviewed Mateen after the rally, where he explained why he attended.

Ironically, Clinton started off her campaign speech in Kissimmee paying tribute to the more than 50 people injured and 49 people killed by 29-year-old Omar Mateen at the Pulse nightclub shooting that took place on June 12 in Orlando. A viral video that has been shared on YouTube captured Omar Mateen’s father sitting in a crowd of at least 3,000 Hillary Clinton supporters at the rally in Kissimmee on Monday evening. Doors for the “anti-Trump” event opened at 4 p.m., and Clinton started her speech around 6:30 p.m. at the Osceola Heritage Park.

“I know how many people, families, loved ones, and friends are still grieving, and we will be with you as you rebuild your lives.”

That was Hillary Clinton’s second rally of the day on Monday in Florida, and Clinton supporters who couldn’t attend in person were invited to watch via a live stream on Patch.com. Those who were able to appear at the Kissimmee rally unknowingly shared the audience with Seddique Mateen, who says he was “invited” because he’s part of the Democratic party. Mateen is shown standing in the crowd wearing a red hat. At one point, Seddique was photographed holding a blue “stronger together” sign and making a thumbs down gesture.

If Hillary has your back, look who has hers (hint, that's the father of Omar Mateen, Orlando Terrorist.) pic.twitter.com/33vROSPnpk

— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) August 9, 2016

Hillary Clinton spoke for just under 30 minutes about jobs and the economic policy with Seddique Mateen visibly standing right behind her the entire time, as reported by the Daily Mail on Tuesday. Mateen even took photographs of Clinton with his cell phone and gave an interview to a local TV station after the rally. NewsChannel 5 asked Seddique Mateen several questions, including why he went to the event, if he was invited, and what he was thinking as Clinton spoke about the Orlando mass shooting.

Mateen reportedly didn’t want to do the interview at first, but WPTV caught up with him again at a rest stop as they were headed back to West Palm Beach after the rally. Seddique Mateen replied that he has been cooperating with the federal government concerning the Pulse gay nightclub shooting in June. Mateen also said that he’s a Democrat, he loves the United States, and he’s been living here a long time. Seddique went on to explain why he attended the Kissimmee rally in support of Hillary Clinton.

“Hillary Clinton is good for United States versus Donald Trump, who has no solutions.”

Everyone who’s a Democrat can join the rally, Seddique Mateen further explained. But Hillary Clinton has since distanced herself from the father of mass murderer, Omar Mateen. An official representative for Clinton said that Mateen had not been invited to Monday night’s rally in Kissimmee, and she had no knowledge of him being there until after the video had surfaced. Campaign spokesman for Hillary Clinton, Nick Merrill, went on to say that Clinton disagrees with Seddique Mateen’s views and disavows his support.

Unbelievable. https://t.co/jqLSZkRRBP

— Sarah (@SarahPalinUSA) August 9, 2016

The statement that Merrill released is referring to Seddique Mateen’s radical political views. A report by Heavy.com shortly after Omar Mateen slaughtered 49 people at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando less than two months ago, outlines Seddique’s involvement with politics in Afghanistan, his views on the nightclub shooting, and his alleged support of the Taliban. According to the report, Mir Seddique, who goes by the name Seddique Mateen, once declared his candidacy for the Afghan presidency via a video on YouTube in 2015.

In another YouTube video, Seddique Mateen reportedly expresses his support of the Afghan Taliban, while denouncing the Pakistani government, and in response to Omar’s attack on the Pulse nightclub, Seddique says that it had nothing to do with religion. Later, Seddique said that Omar became outraged when he witnessed two men kissing in Miami, even though Omar had reportedly visited the Pulse gay nightclub several times, according to witnesses. Seddique Mateen himself actually expressed dislike towards homesexuality, saying on Facebook that “God will punish those involved in homosexuality.”

In that same Facebook post on June 13, Seddique Mateen apologized for his son’s actions.

“He had a lot of love and care, and I couldn’t believe that this is what he was doing. And if he was alive I would ask him one question: Why?

“He was just a regular person going to work and coming back and taking care of his wife and his kids.”

Mir Seddique Mateen apparently emigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s as a Pashtun, an ethnic group with populations in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Seddique has reportedly lived in Florida for the last 25 years, which is why he says no one should be surprised that he attended a Democratic rally in Florida. Seddique proudly supports Hillary Clinton’s stance on gun control, according to the Inquisitr. A homemade sign displayed during the WPTV interview on Monday night says that Seddique Mateen believes Clinton will be “good for national security.”

[Image by Alan Diaz/AP Images]