House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Tuesday that he continues to oppose a temporary ban on immigration for Muslims called for by presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.
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“It’s not reflective of our principles not just as a party but as a country”, Ryan told reporters on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, criticizing the presumptive GOP presidential nominee’s proposal, which Trump reiterated after the deadly massacre at a gay nightclub in Florida over the weekend.
“Muslims are our partners”, Ryan added.
Ryan went on to say that Muslims are crucial in this fight and that the vast majority of them are peaceful and reject jihadism. “I do not think a Muslim ban is in our country’s interest”.
Obama said that the USA was founded on freedom of religion and that there are no religious tests in America.
Ryan also struck a far different tone than Trump on the role of American Muslims, whom Trump accused Monday of harboring terrorists in their communities and failing to report them to authorities. He also focused criticism on President Obama’s administration for not doing enough to combat the threat of radical Islamic terrorism.
This is why, according to Ryan, House Republicans put out a 67-point plan last Thursday to address a host of national security concerns facing the country, including terrorism, foreign policy, and illegal immigration.
“I stand by my remarks”, Ryan said.
Shortly after the Orlando shootings, Trump doubled down on his claims that the best way to avoid this happening is to start banning immigration from certain groups and certain places.
Ryan formally endorsed Trump earlier this month even though the two Republicans don’t agree on key issues like the Muslim entry ban.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to comment when asked Tuesday, saying, “I’m not here to talk about the presidential candidate today”.
So here’s what it’s come to: The Republican leadership admits Trump, their nominee for president, is racist, but nevertheless still pledge their support for him for the White House. “We can not continue to allow thousands upon thousands of people to pour into our country, many of whom have the same thought process as this savage killer”. He attended the anti-Trump Mitt Romney retreat in Utah and has called Trump’s comments about the Hispanic judge “beyond the pale”. So I think it’s very important that we hold that distinction.
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But on ABC’s This Week, Ryan tried to scotch any effort at overturning Trump’s nomination at the convention, saying that Trump got enough delegates to claim victory and that he won “fair and square”.
