Trump claims he has hit ISIS much harder in response to the 'degenerate' NYC attacker

Business Insider; @DaveDMarko/Twitter; REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Donald Trump railed the NYC attacker, calling him a "degenerate animal."

• President Donald Trump tweeted that the military has been hitting the terrorist group ISIS "much harder" since a professed Islamic State supporter killed eight people in New York City on Tuesday.
• Trump called the attacker a "degenerate animal."
• ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday.

President Donald Trump says the military has hit the terrorist group ISIS "much harder" in the last two days to retaliate against the ISIS-inspired terrorist who killed eight people and wounded 11 more on Tuesday in New York City.

"[ISIS] will pay a big price for every attack on us!" he added.

Trump also called Sayfullo Habibullaevic Saipov, the attacker, a "degenerate animal" who served as a soldier of ISIS. Authorities reportedly found notes left behind by Saipov that professed his allegiance to the Islamic State.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday. The group's al-Naba newspaper reported Thursday that "one of the Islamic State soldiers in America attacked on Tuesday a number of crusaders on a street in New York City."

Sources said that Saipov made "no bones" about the attack, that he was pleased with his actions, and that he was unapologetic.

Saipov, a 29-year-old resident of New Jersey, came to the US in 2010 from Uzbekistan on a lottery visa.

Trump has criticized the Diversity Visa Lottery Program and called instead for a more merit-based immigration system.