Donald Trump has no regrets about his proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S., and says they agree with his policy “100 percent.”
The Republican front-runner sat down with reporter Barbara Walters on ABC’s “World News Tonight” Tuesday evening, and was asked if he regrets the policy proposal he laid out Monday on temporarily banning all Muslims from traveling to the U.S. in the aftermath of recent terrorist attacks with suspected ties to the Islamic State.
“Not at all,” Trump replied. “We have to do the right thing, somebody in this country has to say what’s right. I have great respect and love — I have people that I have tremendous relationships with, they’re Muslim — and Barbara, they agree with me 100 percent.”
Walters asked him how long his “short-term” proposal would last, to which the billionaire candidate answered, “It could be very quickly if our country could get its act together … we don’t know what’s happening. We have a president that doesn’t have a clue.”
Trump brushed off concerns by his critics that the Islamic State may like his rhetoric.
“I’m the worst thing that’s ever happened to ISIS. The people in my party fully understand that,” Trump said.
Walters also asked Trump, “Are you a bigot?”
“Not at all. Probably the least of any you’ve ever met,” Trump said.
When pressed to elaborate, Trump added, “Because I’m not. I’m a person that has common sense. I’m a smart person. I know how to run things. I know how to make America great again.”
The interview is not the first Walters has conducted with the businessman. Last month she interviewed Trump with his wife, Melania.
Trump dropped this week to second place in the Washington Examiner’s most recent presidential power rankings.
