GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump says his
call for a ban of all Muslims entering the United States does not apply to American soldiers serving overseas who are Muslims, nor does it apply to people already in the country.
But, he added, it might be a good idea to keep an eye on Muslims inside the country in the wake of the terrorist mass shooting last week in San Bernardino.
Trump called in by phone Monday to Fox News Channel's
"On the Record with Greta Van Susteren," where he defended his statement, which has drawn criticism from some of his GOP opponents.
Van Susteren asked Trump if his no-Muslim rule would apply to Muslim soldiers serving overseas when it was time for them to come home.
"No. They would come home," Trump said, and anyone already here can stay.
"But we have to be very vigilant. There is a lot of bad things going on," he said. "I have Muslim friends, Greta, and they are wonderful people. There is a tremendous section and cross-section of Muslims living in our country who have tremendous animosity. We can't let this happen. We have a country."
"Does this apply to your Muslim friends, this complete shutdown?" Van Susteren asked.
"This does not apply to people living in the country, except that we have to be vigilant because, when you have people … having pipe bombs all over their apartment and other people see this and they don't report them, there is something wrong, very seriously wrong."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.