New: Barbara Walters Asks Donald Trump ‘Are You A Bigot?’
Barbara Walters sat down with Donald Trump today to discuss the blowback from his call for a ban on Muslims.
In a short interview that aired Tuesday evening on ABC News, Donald Trump told Barbara Walters that his call for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. is not at all “un-American.”
“We have to do the right thing,” Trump insisted. “Somebody in this country has to say what’s right.”
Claiming he has “great respect and love” for Muslims, with whom he has “tremendous relationships with,” Trump insisted his proposed ban “is short term” to “let our country get its act together.”
Asked, “What is short term,” Trump refused to quantify it, saying only “it could be very quickly if our country could get its act together.”
“We need toughness and smartness and we have to do it quickly,” Trump insisted, without ever defining what, exactly, it is we need to do quickly, or what deficits he sees in our current programs.
The GOP frontrunner also disagreed with the suggestion that his anti-Muslim rhetoric was a boon to ISIS recruiting.
“I’m the worst thing that ever happened to ISIS. The people in my party fully understand that – they’re running against me. For the most part, they have no poll numbers. I’m leading by a lot. They get it. They’re trying to get publicity for themselves,” Trump said.
“You know when I came out against illegal immigration, everybody said the same thing. Two weeks later, everybody was on my side, including the members of my own party.”
Walters then, bluntly, asked Trump if he is a bigot.
“Not at all. Probably the least of anybody you’ve ever met,” he claimed.
“Because,” Walters probed.
“Because I’m not,” Trump replied.
“I’m a person who has common sense. I’m a smart person. I know how to run things. I know how to make America great again. This is about making America great again.”
Watch:
Donald Trump on proposal to ban Muslims entering US: “It’s short term…we have to be tough” https://t.co/FLKPDYIVf5 https://t.co/1Gqofqv6T6
— World News Tonight (@WNTonight) December 9, 2015
Some responses via Twitter:
Donald Trump basically telling Barbara Walters: Don’t worry about it. I have binders full of Muslims. Huuuge binders…
— Karen DaltonBeninato (@kbeninato) December 8, 2015
Walters: Are you a bigot? Trump: Not at all. Probably the least of anybody you’ve *ever* met. BW: Because? DT: Because I’m not. Convincing.
— Kristin Musulin (@kristinmusulin) December 8, 2015
Trump did not define “short term” when Barbara Walters asked him how long such a Muslim immigration ban would last
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) December 8, 2015
Donald Trump just looked Barbara Walters directly in the eyes and said that he is not a bigot.
— Spenser Clark (@spenser_clark) December 8, 2015
Donald Trump doesn’t deserve respect. Barbara Walters gently interviewing him. WTH is wrong with our media..
— patti (@utbrp) December 8, 2015
Â
Image: Screenshot via ABC News
Â

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |