Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump on Wednesday slightly backed off his proposal to put a hold on Muslim immigration into the United States, saying it was just a “suggestion.”
“We have a serious problem. It’s a temporary ban. It hasn’t been called for yet. Nobody’s done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out what’s going on,” Trump told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade in a radio interview.
This shift in tone came the day before the presumptive GOP nominee was slated to meet with Republican leadership in Congress, including House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). Ryan, who has not yet endorsed Trump, has repeatedly condemned the real estate mogul’s proposal to ban Muslim immigration, saying it is “not what this country stands for.”
As recently as last week, Trump was calling a temporary ban a necessary measure for the U.S. to remain “vigilant” and “strong” in preventing terrorist attacks.
In his interview with Kilmeade, Trump accused those who oppose denying immigrants entry to the U.S. on religious grounds, like newly-elected London mayor Sadiq Khan and President Obama, of denying the threat of “Islamic terrorism.”
