NEW YORK, Dec. 7 (UPI) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump called for a total ban on Muslims entering the U.S. for an indefinite period of time, an announcement that drew widespread criticism from both political parties, religious groups and law experts.
Trump released the statement Monday on his website, calling for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”
Trump declared in September “I love the Muslims,” but Monday’s statement puts the real estate mogul and TV star in closer association with hate groups. Trumps GOP rivals, Democratic candidates and Christian, Jewish and Muslim groups were all quick to denounce his statement.
The call for a ban is also the latest step away from Trump’s stated “love” of Muslims in September that began shortly after the Paris attacks when he called for a database to track all Muslims in the country. It was followed by the widely discredited claim that he saw thousands of Muslims celebrating on 9/11 in New Jersey.
“It is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension,” Trump added, stoking fear on the 74th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States into World War II.
Trump’s political opponents reacted harshly, perhaps none more than Senator Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) (R-S.C.)
“Donald Trump, with this recent statement, has taken xenophobia and religious bigotry to a new level,” Graham said. “Statements like this empower the enemy, and make it difficult for our soldiers and diplomats to operate throughout the Muslim world. His antics and bombastic behavior are literally putting American lives at risk around the world. And statements like this would mean a death sentence to our interpreters and others who have helped the American military in our struggle against radical Islam.”
Other candidates took to Twitter to denounce the statement.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush called Trump “unhinged.” Senator Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) (R-Fla.) said the statement was “offensive and outlandish.”
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the ban “reprehensible, prejudiced and divisive.” Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, a long shot for the Democratic nomination, declared Trump “a fascist demagogue.”
The executive director of Interfaith Alliance, Rabbi Jack Moline, mocked Trump’s statement.
“Rooting our nation’s immigration policy in religious bigotry and discrimination will not make America great again,” Moline said.
Immigration experts also called the statement anti-American.
“This is so antithetical to the history of the United States,” said Nancy Morawetz, a immigration law professor at New York University. “I cannot recall any historical precedent for denying immigration based on religion.”
Comment count on this article reflects comments made on Breitbart.com and Facebook. Visit Breitbart's Facebook Page.