Donald Trump: Ban Muslims from Entering America

Following the shooting in California that resulted in the deaths of 14 people by a Muslim couple, Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate for the 2016 presidential election, announced on Monday, December 7, that Muslims should be temporarily and completely banned from entering the United States. According to the Associated Press, Trump's campaign statement emphasized that such a ban should be enforced until lawmakers and representatives understand what the problem is. The statement also highlighted that this proposal arose from the hatred of 'a significant portion of the Muslim population' towards America. Trump added that until a decision can be made regarding this problem and the dangerous threats it poses, the country should not allow itself to become a victim of attacks by individuals who believe in jihad and do not value human life. Corey Lewandowski, Trump's campaign manager, stated that Trump's proposal for banning Muslims would include 'everyone,' including tourists and those wishing to immigrate to the U.S. Lewandowski did not respond to the question of whether this proposal would include American Muslim citizens who leave the country. Trump's remarks have sparked widespread reactions, with several Republican candidates for the 2016 presidential election criticizing his statements. Chris Christie, the Governor of New Jersey and a Republican candidate, called the proposal 'ridiculous' and 'non-constructive.' Senator Marco Rubio, another Republican candidate, stated that he does not agree with Trump on this issue and that such comments will not promote unity among the American people. Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House, deemed Trump's proposal completely contrary to all American values. While Trump called for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., Barack Obama stated in a live televised speech the previous day: 'If we want to succeed in the war against terrorism, we must view Muslims as a strong ally in this battle, not drive them away with suspicion and hatred.' Republican Senator John McCain also reacted to Trump's proposal, stating that this is not the first foolish comment he has made and it will not be the last. Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon called it the worst proposal he has ever heard from a presidential candidate. Trump is among the candidates who have taken a hardline stance against Muslims in America. Recently, Trump expressed support for the idea of compiling detailed profiles of all Muslims in the U.S. in a statistical database. Syed Rizwan Farook, an inspector responsible for restaurant inspections at the San Bernardino Health Department, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, attacked a holiday party attended by Farook's colleagues on Wednesday. Reports indicate that the couple fired 75 rounds at the attendees, killing 14 and injuring 21 others. Farook and Malik were killed four hours later in a shootout with police.