Republican front-runner Donald Trump called into CNN Tuesday morning to discuss his proposal to block all Muslims from entering the United States, and the interview quickly turned into an all-out war of words as the real estate mogul fended off criticism of his controversial plan.
“Your proposition is plain,” said CNN’s Chris Cuomo, “ban all Muslims until we can figure out what’s going on. People are asking you how you would do that? I say let’s put that to the side. It’s irrelevant. It’s about the concept.”
The host then cited critics who have responded to the proposal by saying it’s “extreme” and that Trump is a “fascist.”
“You take a look, Chris, at what’s going on and it is disgraceful. First of all, you know, people quickly forget World Trade Center 1, World Trade Center No. 2. And you take a look at all of the things that are happening, having to do with the problems,” Trump responded.
His proposal to ban Muslims from entering the United States comes after two radicalized Islamic terrorists, Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, 27, shot and killed 14 people in San Bernardino, California.
Malik entered the United States in July 2014 on a K-1 visa. Her visa allowed her to travel freely and marry Farook within 90 days of her arrival on American soil.
The GOP candidate’s team released a statement Monday afternoon explaining his plan to halt Muslim travel into the United States.
The statement claimed Trump is, “Calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what’s going on.”
“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,” it added.
The GOP front-runner continued Tuesday morning, explaining the reasoning behind his newest anti-terror proposal.
“I have no doubt that we have no choice but to do exactly what I said until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” Trump said, referring to the San Bernardino shooting. “Because we have a problem in this country.
“It’s totally out of control. It’s so dangerous,” he added, referring to other Islamic terrorist attacks around the world, including in London and Paris.
Cuomo disputed Trump’s characterization that people in Paris and London are living in fear.
“The police are all over that country right now and they’re doing a lot of policing, but more importantly to your point, I would say it’s the opposite reality. You see the French being more embracing of people around them, you see them living their lives, you see them refusing to accept fear as a basis for behavior,” the host said.
“Whereas here, what you’re doing in the country that is known as a symbol of freedom, is saying we’re too afraid to be inclusive,” he added. “We’re going to reject the promise of America and ban an entire religion, even though we need to do things on a case-by-case basis. It seems as though you’re acting out of fear, not making us look strong, and rejecting what America is all about. U.K. is not doing this. France isn’t doing this.”
The two then argued over whether French and British citizens are living in fear and responding in kind.
“Chris, we are at war with radical Islamic terrorism,” Trump said.
“Right, not all Islam,” the host responded.
“We are at war with them, Chris. Put it through your head.”
“All right. Yeah, I understand what you’re saying, believe me, I live it. We go to these places and cover these things. We understand the threat very well and you know that because you get a lot of your information from us, as you tell us. So – I get it,” the host responded.
