Donald Trump: Ban Muslims From Coming To America

With the investigation into last weeks attack in California overlapping with vigils for the 14 victims killed, Donald Trump called Monday for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims attempting to enter the United States until the country’s leaders can “figure out what is going on.”

The language was an escalation in harshness against Muslims, even for Trump, and more typically his style for its squishiness in detail. The GOP presidential candidate did no say whether a ban should apply to only potential immigrants or also to tourists and Muslim citizens returning from vacation, for example.

“Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension,” Trump said in a statement on his website. “Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine.”

The announcement was immediately derided as dangerous and irresponsible both by his fellow GOP presidential candidates and Democratic rivals.

“This is kind of thing people say when they have no experience and no idea what they’re talking about,” Republican Gov. Chris Christie and fellow GOP hopeful said.

“The U.S. is a strong nation when we stand together,” Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders tweeted. “We are weak when we allow racism and xenophobia to divide us. cc: @realDonaldTrump.”

The U.S. Census does not keep data on religion, but the Pew Research Center estimates that approximately 1 percent of the American population practices Islam.

“You have to wonder what he is going to call for next. I don’t even want to go there,” Ibrahim Hooper, the national communications director for Council on American-Islamic Relations, told Yahoo News. “You have to wonder what he says next as he ramps up his anti-Muslim bigotry to new heights.

“It’s completely astounding. I don’t know what to say.”

The announcement also comes a day after President Obama urged the country “to reject proposals that Muslim-Americans should somehow be treated differently” in a national address.

“Just when you think @realDonaldTrump can stoop no lower, he does,” tweeted Jeff Flake, a Republican U.S. Senator from Arizona. “These views do not reflect serious thought.”

In the latest nationwide CNN/ORC poll of registered Republicans and Independents, Trump was the frontrunner by 20 percentage points at 36 percent. His next closest competition, Ted Cruz, polled at 16 percent.

“Donald Trump is unhinged. His ’policy’ proposals are not serious,” tweeted Florida governor and GOP candidate Jeb Bush.

The first amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

“This is just more of the outrageous divisiveness that characterizes his every breath and another reason why he is entirely unsuited to lead the United States,” Ohio governor and GOP hopeful John Kasich said.

This post will be updated.