Just when media outlets didn't think Donald Trump could say anything more incendiary than he already has, the Republican presidential front-runner on Monday called for all Muslims to be banned from entering the United States.
The statement, first thought of as a hoax when it was emailed to reporters, calls for a sweeping policy that would "temporarily" stop Muslims from entering "until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on." Trump didn't elaborate on whether that mean banning those who are U.S. citizens from re-entry, nor how he would carry out such legislation.
Official stmnt: "Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States" pic.twitter.com/Gj3YzJFzW0
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) December 7, 2015
Trump defends his stance at a rally in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina where he said he didn't know if Muslims loved or hated Americans. "We're out of control; we have no idea who is coming into our country," Trump said. "I want ISIS to surrender."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie was among the presidential candidates to swiftly denounce Trump's proposal. During an appearance on the Michael Medved radio show, Christie said Americans should be reaching out to the Muslim community, especially those who actively help in fighting terrorist organizations like ISIS.
"This is the kind of thing that people say when they have no experience and don't know what they are talking about. We do not need to resort to that type of activity nor should we," Christie said. "What we need to do is to increase our intelligence activities. We need to cooperate with peaceful Muslim Americans who want to give us intelligence against those who are radicalized."
Declaring war on Islam or demonizing Muslim Americans is not only counter to our values—it plays right into the hands of terrorists. — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) December 8, 2015
Donald Trump is unhinged. His "policy" proposals are not serious. — Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 7, 2015
pic.twitter.com/noMfFeL3vq — John Kasich (@JohnKasich) December 7, 2015
.@tedcruz to me just now on @realDonaldTrump Muslim pln: "That is not my policy. I believe the focus should be on radical Islamic terrorism"
— Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) December 7, 2015
.@CarlyFiorina in Iowa: "Donald Trump's overreaction is as dangerous as President Obama's under reaction." Per @LaurenBlanch12 — Fin Gomez (@finnygo) December 7, 2015
I disagree with Donald Trump's latest proposal. His habit of making offensive and outlandish statements will not bring Americans together. — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) December 8, 2015
Former vice president Dick Cheney, a staunch disputant of how the Obama administration is handling ISIS, also condemned Trump's strategy, telling conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt that it goes against everything Americans "stand for and believe in.
"I mean, religious freedom has been a very important part of our history and where we came from," Cheney added.
Social media users from all sides of the political spectrum agreed, some unsurprised while others pointed to a double-standard in Trump's proposal.
RT @drmoore: Anyone who cares an iota about religious liberty will denounce the reckless, demagogic @realDonaldTrump plan for Muslims.
— J.D. Greear (@jdgreear) December 8, 2015
Let's think about it, banning Muslims from entering so on this line of reasoning do you ban white men 14-21 from schools? — feminism & burritos (@nashwakay) December 8, 2015
On days like today, I swear I see how a Civil War could break out in this country. The leading Republican candidate said "Ban All Muslims"
— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) December 7, 2015
Trump could as easily be saying "Jews" as "Muslims", if it suited him now, and it would as much delight many of his staunchest followers. — William Gibson (@GreatDismal) December 8, 2015
trump is that guy on fb who shares posts about how obama is a muslim but "isnt even racist" bc he had a black friend in high school once
— kyle (@kylevetrano) December 8, 2015
I grew up listening to Holocaust survivors tell their stories. They always began the same way. We're watching it happen again. #Trump — Lauren (@DameSavage77) December 8, 2015
The real damage done by Trump is the revelation of our own festering racism and fascism, and how far we're willing to let it go.
— Kiva Bay (@KivaBay) December 8, 2015
. @realDonaldTrump Mr. Trump, what if the American Muslim soldiers who died in wars had survived? Would they have come home and killed me?
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