The Donald TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE administration will not impose a registry based on religion, his soon-to-be chief of staff said Sunday.
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Reince Priebus dismissed any talk that Trump was considering a “Muslim registry.”
Asked by Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press” if he would rule out a registry for Muslims, Priebus responded: “Look, I’m not going to rule out anything.”
“But … we’re not going to have a registry based on a religion. But what I think what we’re trying to do is say that there are some people, certainly not all people, Chuck, there are some people that are radicalized and there are some people that have to be prevented from coming into this country.”
Reuters reported last week that Trump’s immigration advisers were considering recommending a registry for immigrants from Muslim countries and countries with significant problems with terrorism.
“Donald Trump campaigned on a dangerous promise to discriminate against Muslim Americans, and now his team is doubling down on his divisive ideas,” Democratic National Committee spokesman Adam Hodge said in a statement on Sunday.
“A Muslim registry is an extreme and outrageous assault on religious liberty—and it goes against our values as Americans. We must always defend the rights and freedoms that all Americans share, no matter their race, religion or creed. Republicans and Democrats alike should denounce the Trump team’s openly xenophobic rhetoric and unconstitutional policies.”
–This report was updated at 12:13 p.m.