Republican Presidential front-runner Donald Trump, 69, has called Monday for barring all Muslims from entering the United States.
“Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,” a campaign press release said.
“Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine,” Trump said in a statement. “Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life.”
Trump’s campaign added in the release that such a ban should remain in effect “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”
The release pointed to an online poll from the controversial Center for Security Policy, which claimed that a quarter of Muslims living in the U.S. believe violence against Americans is justified as part of a global jihadist campaign. Critics have questioned the reliability of the organization’s information. It also pointed to a Pew Research poll, which the campaign declined to identify, which the campaign claimed points to “great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population.”
Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Monday said that the ban would apply not just to Muslim foreigners looking to immigrate to the U.S., but also to Muslims looking to visit the U.S. as tourists.
“Everyone,” Lewandowski said when asked if the ban would also apply to Muslim tourists.
“Great surveillance and vigilance must be adhered to,” said Trump in an additional statement Lewandowski provided to CNN. “We want to be very fair but too many bad things are happening and the percentage of true hatred is too great. People that are looking to destroy our country must be reported and turned in by the good people who love our country and want America to be great again.”
Trump however said that his policy would not apply to current Muslims in the U.S. during a Fox News interview on Monday evening.
Meanwhile, President Obama’s administration has condemned the proposal.
Obama’s deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes reacting to Trump’s call on Monday said that it is “totally contrary to our values as Americans” and pointed to the Bill of Rights’ protection of freedom of religion and pointing to the “extraordinary contributions” Muslim Americans have made to the U.S.
How Donald Trump thinks banning muslims from entering the US will help fight terrorism is incomprehensible to me. I really hope Americans do not elect this man as President, I really hope.
Trump is a mad man. US and allies created terrorist. Where was Trum when US invaded Iraq… Trump is Clueless, has no Idea of the world diplomacy, not worthy to be a chancellor talk less a president of United State Of America
You’ve said it all sir.
This Obama administration sef, what contributions has Muslims made to the US? If that’s the solution I totally agreed with trump.
I don talk am since say this guy get mental problem…….
I still don’t see the sense in all what he has said.
Trump of all mental associate..imado ba sebi elede a baluje beru bajoba eniyan o nii kukan..
Weere re o..trump
I won’t be surprised if Donald Trump is elected the president of US. A lot of the Caucasian/white seems to buy his ideas, a lot of them are not bold enough to speak their mind and he becomes the truth voice. That’s why with all the controversies around him, he’s still leading in the Republican camp.
A lot of US citizens may vote for him for the same reasons Nigerians voted for Buhari. Trump already has that bullying image, a go-getter, a shark who will do anything to rise to the top. This is the image he built on the Apprentice, a lot of them believe in him, he possess the leading ability, he’s a brand on its own and right now some blacks are even backing him, plus a lot of people don’t want another black president, which is hurting Ben Carson’s campaign.
First he went after the Latinos, then the African American, and now the Muslims. Most times whatever he said may seems aggressive, damning, and outrageous, but if you pay close attention to his opinion, you’ll realize a bit of truth in it. Right now to curb the violence going in the United states, and also protect the citizens, both Christians, Muslims and other religions, this measure will be a damage control procedure.
A lot of Muslims are being targeted by others in the US right now, wherever they go, most of them are trying hard not to show their religion, they’re not safe, especially the Asian Muslims, Arabian also, this guys become a target even at the place of work, that’s why US officials has warned against provoking them, which may lead them to nervous breakdown.
This measure is put in place to make sure they can protect the lives of the ones in the US right now, why add more problems to the ones you have, it may seems silly but sometimes the truth is a bitter pill.