House Minority Leader Harry Reid on Tuesday declared Donald Trump “un-American” after he reiterated his call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. in the wake of the Orlando terror attack.
“It’s reprehensible and un-American for the nominee of any major party or any party to declare millions of Americans guilty until proven innocent based on their religion,” the Nevada Democrat said on the Senate floor.
Trump stated that he would place a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. in response to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando by a gunman who declared allegiance to the Islamic State. Trump originally proposed the ban in December after the San Bernardino, Calif., shooting, where a radicalized Muslim couple killed 14 people.
“What does it say about the Republican Party, that they’re endorsing this vile man? It doesn’t say much. What does it say about Republican senators that they’re backing Trump for president? Not much,” Reid said. “What does it say about Senate Republican leadership, about the Senate Republican leader that he’s supporting Trump? Not much.”
Reid specifically called out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his endorsement of Trump. Last week, McConnell refused to admit Trump’s comments about the federal judge overseeing the Trump University case were racist, despite other Republican leaders like Speaker of the House Paul Ryan agreeing they were racist and unacceptable.
“Every time the senior senator from Kentucky reaffirms his commitment to support Trump, he’s validating Trump’s behavior,” Reid said, referring to McConnell. “He’s giving credence to Donald Trump’s rabid anti-everything speech, his anti-American stances against Muslims, women, Latinos, blacks, people with disabilities, immigrants, veterans and others.”
“As for the Republican leader in the Senate, Sen. McConnell should be the first to condemn Trump’s hateful rhetoric and reject his presidential candidacy,” Reid added. “Let’s hope the senior senator from Kentucky can bring himself to do just that and do it soon.”
