PTI
WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 9
The White House and the Pentagon have denounced Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump’s call for a ban on the entry of Muslims into the US, saying the anti-Muslim rhetoric undermines America’s national security.
Trump’s remark to ban Muslims from coming to the United States is harmful to national security interest, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
“His comments aren’t helpful to our national security,” he said.
“The fact is, ISIL (Islamic State) is trying to advance narrative that suggests that they represent the religion of Islam in waging a war against the US and the West,” Earnest said, adding that, “That narrative is false; it is a fantasy.”
Millions of Muslims are on the side of the US and our international coalition in trying to degrade and destroy the terrorist group, he said.
The Pentagon too criticised the comment, saying the remark was “contrary to our national security.”
“Anything that bolsters ISIL’s narrative and pits the US against the Muslim faith is certainly not only contrary to our values, but contrary to our national security,” Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook told reporters at a separate briefing.
The Homeland Security Secretary said Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric is harming US national security interest.
“What Mr Trump said is deeply offensive. And as the secretary of homeland security said, has consequences for our national security,” Earnest said in response to a question.
“We should have a robust debate about foreign policy in this country. But that should be a debate about policy that reflects the values of this country, that are enshrined in our Constitution. What Mr Trump said runs directly counter to those values. It undermines them. It tarnishes them. It is why so many Americans find them offensive,” he said.
Trump called for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the US, in the wake of a mass shooting in California by a Muslim couple believed to have been radicalised. The remark was the latest in a series of increasingly virulent remarks by Trump in recent weeks.
Over 70,000 people had by Wednesday signed a petition to ban US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump from entering Britain following his call to bar Muslims from entering the United States.
The petition was posted on the government’s website late Tuesday by Scottish resident Suzanne Kelly, a long-time critic of the 69-year-old billionaire.
“The UK has banned entry to many individuals for hate speech. The same principles should apply to everyone who wishes to enter the UK,” said the petition.
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“If the United Kingdom is to continue applying the ‘unacceptable behaviour’ criteria to those who wish to enter its borders, it must be fairly applied to the rich as well as poor, and the weak as well as powerful,” it added.
If the number of signatories reaches 100,000, the petition can be considered for debate in Britain’s Parliament. The government is also obliged to issue an official response after the tally ticked past 10,000.
Six MPs have also signed a House of Commons motion brought by Labour member Imran Hussain calling on the government “to refuse a visa allowing Donald Trump to visit the UK until Mr Trump withdraws his comments”, saying they were “extremely divisive and will incite discrimination and hatred.”
