Facing harsh criticism for
his proposal to temporarily
halt Muslim immigration to the U.S., Donald
Trump on Wednesday said he was acting in the Islamic
community's best interests.
"I'm doing good for
the Muslims," Trump told Don Lemon in an interview for "CNN
Tonight." "Many Muslim friends of mine are in agreement with me. They
say, 'Donald, you brought something up to the fore that is so brilliant and so fantastic.'"
Among those reaching out
to thank him, the Republican front-runner said, was "one of the most
important people in Middle East" — Trump didn't reveal the name — who
called on Wednesday to say, "Donald, you're doing a great service."
"I have many friends
who are Muslims," Trump told Lemon. "They're phenomenal people. They
are so happy at what I'm doing."
The feeling, he said, is
mutual.
"I love the Middle
East," Trump declared. "I love the people of the Middle East."
Trump also said his plan
had been misrepresented and explained that the immigration ban may not last
long.
"It could go quickly,
but it's a subject that has to be discussed," he said, adding that there
would be exceptions for Muslim athletes and diplomats.
Trump pinned the fierce
backlash that followed his call for "a total and complete shutdown of
Muslims entering the United States" on Republican establishment figures
and his primary opponents.
"The group that is
not criticizing me," he said, "is the public. The public agrees with
what I said. They saw those two animals last week go out and shoot people (in
San Bernardino)."
Trump said he was not
likely to wage a third-party candidacy, but
the billionaire businessman would not rule it out.
"I think it's highly
unlikely unless they break the pledge to me,
because it's a two-way street," Trump said. "They said they would be
honorable. So far, they, I can't tell you if they are, but the establishment is
not exactly being very good to me."
He added, "If they don't
treat me with a certain amount of decorum and respect. If they don't treat me
as the front-runner...If the playing field is not level, then certainly all
options are open. But that's nothing I want to do...I'll know that over a
period of a couple months. We'll go through the primaries. We'll see what
happens, and I'll make a determination."
Trump said the comparisons,
which have become increasingly direct, did not upset him.
"You know where
things bother me?" he asked. "If things are true. If that were true,
it would bother me tremendously. But of course if you were a racist you
probably wouldn't care. But if things are true, it would bother me. But if it's
so false, and honestly I don't hear it often."
Trump was harshly critical
of the President's strategy for
fighting ISIS.
"We have a president
who is a stupid person," Trump said, slamming Obama for making public his
plans to send special forces to Kurdish-held territory in Syria near the Iraq
border.
The White House
announcement put a target "on their hearts," he said. "If I win,
I want to be unpredictable."
"I didn't say that, no," Trump said when asked if he
would be meeting the Israeli leader. "I have respect for him. I actually
did a commercial for him, for his campaign....I like him a lot. I'm going to
Israel, I'm not saying who I'm meeting with."
The comment marked a departure from last week in Virginia, when
Trump told supporters at a rally, "I'm going to Israel, and I'll be
meeting with Bibi
Netanyahu, who's a great guy." CNN also reported Wednesday that
the two would be meeting later this month, according to an Israeli official.
Earlier Wednesday, Netanyahu's office criticized Trump for his
comments about Muslims.
"Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects Donald Trump's recent
remarks about Muslims," the office said in a statement. "The State of
Israel respects all religions and strictly guarantees the rights of all its
citizens. At the same time, Israel is fighting against militant Islam that targets
Muslims, Christians and Jews alike and threatens the entire world."
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