Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is asserting that countries like France that he says are compromised by terrorism may be subjected to the “extreme vetting” he proposes as a deterrent to attacks in the US When asked if his proposal might lead to a point when not a lot of people from overseas are allowed into the US, Trump said, “maybe we get to that point” and added: “We have to be smart and we have to be vigilant and we have to be strong.”
In an interview to air yesterday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump also defended Fox News founder Roger Ailes, who left the network amid accusations of sexual harassment; criticised rival Hillary Clinton’s newly named running mate, senator Tim Kaine, for accepting gifts while Virginia’s governor; dismissed descriptions of his nomination acceptance speech as “dark,” instead calling it “optimistic”; and expressed disapproval of David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan leader who is seeking a senate seat from Louisiana.
For months Trump has called for a temporary ban on foreign Muslims seeking to enter the United States and criticised the Obama administration for continuing to admit refugees from Syria.
In his speech Thursday night at the Republican National Convention, he said the US “must immediately suspend immigration from any nation that has been compromised by terrorism until such time as proven vetting mechanisms have been put in place” — notably leaving out any reference to Muslims or to Syria, Iraq and other Mideast nations.
In the NBC interview, Trump noted “specific problems” in Germany and France — both countries have been rocked by fatal attacks in public places in recent weeks — and Meet the Press host Chuck Todd asked if his proposal would limit immigration from France.”They’ve been compromised by terrorism,” Todd said.
Trump replied: “They have totally been. And you know why? It’s their own fault. Because they allowed people to come into their territory.”
He then called for “extreme vetting” and said: “We have to have tough, we’re going to have tough standards.... If a person can’t prove what they have to be able to prove, they’re not coming into this country.”
During his interview, Trump also Defended Ailes, who resigned from Fox amid sexual harassment allegations by numerous women.
Trump described Ailes as a longtime friend and said “some of the women” complaining about Ailes have been helped by him in the past and earlier had said good things about him.”It’s very sad,” Trump said.”Because he’s a very good person. I’ve always found him to be just a very, very good person.”
He criticized Kaine for accepting $160,000 worth of gifts, much of it for trips, while serving as governor.
The gifts were legal under the state’s permissive ethics rules, but Trump said: “To me, it’s a big problem...
how do you take all these gifts?”
He took issue with descriptions of his convention speech earlier in the week as “dark”. ‘’It was an optimistic speech,” Trump said.
Referring to his mention of crime as well as shootings and terrorist attacks both here and overseas, he said, “Sure, I talk about the problems, but we’re going to solve the problems.”
He criticized Duke, who cited Trump’s campaign as an inspiration for his senate bid.
Trump was quick to say he rejected efforts by Duke to run for the senate.
In an interview several months ago, Trump was asked about Duke offering his support and Trump responded: “I don’t know anything about David Duke.”
His initial response drew harsh criticism from Democrats, Republicans and civil rights groups,” and he later said “I disavow” Duke’s support.
Trump also suggested yesterday that the United States could pull out of the World Trade Organization if he is elected president.
Trump, who has already threatened to renegotiate or rip up the North American Free Trade Agreement, also doubled down in the interview on recent comments questioning the US commitment to its Nato allies.
He said he would slap punitive import taxes of up to 30% on firms that moved manufacturing activities abroad, citing NAFTA partner Mexico as an example.
When show host Chuck Todd objected that such plans would be challenged at the WTO, he responded: “Doesn’t matter. We’ll renegotiate or pull out. These trade deals are a disaster, Chuck. World Trade Organization is a disaster.”
Asked if he was concerned such actions could rattle the world economy — much as the British decision to exit the EU has done — Trump was dismissive.
“I’m the only one that said Brexit is going to happen,” said the billionaire.“What did it do? The stock market is higher now.”
Pressed again on whether a fractured Europe was good for America, Trump equivocated, putting forward a vision of Europe as an economic competitor to be bested.
“No, no — but we’re spending a lot of money in Europe,” he said.“Don’t forget, Europe got together, why primarily did they get together? To beat the United States when it comes to making money. In other words, on trade.
“The reason that it got together was like a consortium so it could compete with the United States.”
“Look at Airbus,” he said.“They got together, all of these countries got together so they could beat the United States. Okay?”
“So you know, we’re in competition in one way and helping them in one way.
It’s so messed up.”
Regarding the United States’ Nato commitments, Trump was unapologetic, repeating that he intended to force allies to shoulder defence costs that the US has borne for decades.
“We have countries within Nato taking advantage of us. With me, I believe they are going to pay,” said Trump, who previously warned assistance to allies would depend on whether they “have fulfilled their obligations to us.”
“Now, a country gets invaded. They haven’t paid. Everyone said ‘Oh, but we have a treaty’.”
“If they don’t pay — Chuck — this isn’t 40 years ago. This isn’t 50 years ago. It’s not 30 years ago.We’re a different country today.
“We have countries that aren’t paying and this goes beyond Nato because we take care of Japan.
We take care of Germany and South Korea and
we lose on everything. “We can no longer be the stupid country.”
Donald Trump
