'Unhinged': Republicans are slamming Donald Trump's 'outrageous' proposal to stop Muslims from entering the US
Fellow Republican presidential candidates are slamming Donald Trump's proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering to the US.
On Monday afternoon, the Republican presidential front-runner's campaign released a statement 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."
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"Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine," Trump said.
"Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life."
%shareLinks-quote="This is the kind of thing that people say when they have no experience and don't know what they're talking about. We do not need to endorse that type of activity, nor should we." type="quote" author="Chris Christie" authordesc="Governor of New Jersey" isquoteoftheday="false"%
Trump's proposal immediately sparked condemnation from several of his Republican presidential rivals.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) responded in a tweet, calling Trump "unhinged."
Donald Trump is unhinged. His "policy" proposals are not serious.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) December 7, 2015
READ MORE: Trump calls for 'complete shutdown' of Muslims entering the US
Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) said that Trump's statement yet again proved that the real-estate mogul is unfit for higher office.
"This is just more of the outrageous divisivenes that characterizes his every breath and another reason why he is entirely unsuited to lead the United States," Kasich said in a statement.
And New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) told radio host Michael Medved in an interview on Monday that Trump's proposal reflected his lack of executive experience.
READ MORE: Poll: Majority says Trump is hurting GOP brand
"This is the kind of thing that people say when they have no experience and don't know what they're talking about. We do not need to endorse that type of activity, nor should we," Christie said.
In a series of tweets, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) called on his fellow candidates to condemn Trump.
.@Realdonaldtrump has gone from making absurd comments to being downright dangerous with his bombastic rhetoric.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 7, 2015
He’s putting at risk the lives of interpreters, American supporters, diplomats, & the troops in the region by making these bigoted comments
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 7, 2015
Every candidate for president needs to do the right thing & condemn @Realdonaldtrump's statement.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 7, 2015
At least one of the Republican candidates, however, was relatively mute on the subject of Trump's proposal.
Here's Ted Cruz's full response in South Carolina to Donald Trump's remarks about Muslims. pic.twitter.com/SJznNoQZP2
— Teddy Schleifer (@teddyschleifer) December 7, 2015
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson's campaign told Business Insider that he would advocate visitors to "register" upon coming to the US. But he would not advocate being "selective on one's religion" for such a registry."
"Everyone visiting our country should register and be monitored during their stay as is done in many countries. We do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion," said Doug Watts, a campaign spokesman.
Pamela Engel contributed reporting.
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