The strongest reaction came in the United States, including from Trump’s rivals in the race to run for the White House in 2016.
Advertisement
“For some Jews, the sight of thousands of supporters waving their fists in anger as Trump incited against Muslims and urged a blanket ban on their entry to the United States could have evoked associations with beer halls in Munich a century ago”, he wrote. Especially in the United States, Muslims represent a diverse community that includes African-Americas as well as those from many other countries such as Indonesia and Egypt, among others, he added.
House Speaker Paul Ryan told his Republican colleagues that Trump’s comments on Muslims is “not who we are” as a party or American people. “You side with people in the faith who reject this ideology, which is 99 per cent”, Graham told CNN, before invoking Trump’s campaign slogan – “make America great again”. “Donald Trump is unhinged”, Jeb Bush said via Twitter.
“This is a president highly respected by all, he did the same thing”, Trump said.
Trump clarified in a round of television interviews Tuesday that his proposed ban would not apply to American citizens travelling overseas and would allow exemptions for certain people, including the leaders of Middle Eastern countries.
The GOP candidate went on to talk about the terrorist attacks in Paris, saying the French capital is “no longer the same city it was” following last months horrifying shootings and bombings.
British Prime Minister David Cameron slammed Trump’s proposal as “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong”.
“We have a president who doesn’t want to say that”. “We’re going to have more World Trade Centers”, he said, referring to the deadly attacks on September 11, 2001.
“Tell Donald Trump to go to hell”. “His “policy” proposals are not serious”. “No, not at all”, Trump said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe“. “We have people that want to blow up our buildings, our cities”.
Leti Volpp, a University of California expert on immigration law said “there is no precedent for a religious litmus test for admitting immigrants into the United States”.
Johnson said that while U.S. President Barack Obama has acknowledged a new phase in the fight against militant groups like Islamic State, it was critical to build relationships with Muslims, not alienate them.
A statement from Dar al-Ifta, the country’s official religious body, called Trump’s remarks “hate rhetoric”.
“Freedom of religion is a fundamental constitutional principle”, Ryan said.
Advertisement
The White House rebuffed Trump’s statement and deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the comments were “totally contrary to our values as Americans”.
