US Presidential Election: 'Muslims To Be Stopped From Entering US'- Donald Trump

Leading Republican presidential hopeful cites
"extraordinary influx of hatred" in statement
that is swiftly condemned.
Republican presidential front-runner Donald
Trump has called for a "total and complete" block
on Muslims entering the United States.

A statement from Trump's campaign team said the
halt on Muslims entering the country should
remain in place "until our country's
representatives can figure out what is 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.
Donald Trump
The statement does not specify if the proposal
would affect both tourists and immigrants.
Trump's campaign cites poll data allegedly
showing "hatred towards Americans by large
segments of the Muslim population".
"Where this hatred comes from and why we will
have to determine," the billionaire real estate
mogul, who is leading in opinion polls among
likely Republican voters, said in the statement.
"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."
Trump has been increasingly virulent in his
remarks targeting Muslim Americans since the
deadly Paris attacks, and again in the wake of last
week's shooting attack in California, which was
carried out by a Muslim couple, leaving 14 dead
and 21 wounded.
"Just put out a very important policy statement on
the extraordinary influx of hatred & danger
coming into our country. We must be vigilant!"
Trump tweeted after the statement was released.
His announcement unleashed quick condemnation
on Twitter.
"@realdonaldtrump removes all doubt: he is
running for President as a fascist demagogue,"
Democratic presidential contender Martin
O'Malley said.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations group
said: "We're entering into the realm of the fascist
now."