--- title: Ben Carson Says Muslim Comments Were Taken Out of Context description: Republican presidential candidate says he could support a Muslim as president "if they embrace American values canonical: https://time.com/4045143/ben-carson-backpedals-muslim-comments/ author: Daniel White article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-22T20:17:38.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:57:43.366Z article:section: Politics og:title: Ben Carson Says Muslim Comments Were Taken Out of Context og:description: Republican presidential candidate says he could support a Muslim as president "if they embrace American values og:url: https://time.com/4045143/ben-carson-backpedals-muslim-comments/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltab8d91ae0312906a/698864d0f887dc312de927f5/ben-carson4.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2560 og:image:height: 1440 og:image:alt: SHARONVILLE, OH - SEPTEMBER 22: Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson speaks at a campaign rally on September 22, 2015 in Sharonville, Ohio. Carson came under criticism after expressing his view that he would not support putting "a Muslim in og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Ben Carson Says Muslim Comments Were Taken Out of Context twitter:description: Republican presidential candidate says he could support a Muslim as president "if they embrace American values twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltab8d91ae0312906a/698864d0f887dc312de927f5/ben-carson4.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Ben Carson Says Muslim Comments Were Taken Out of Context > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME D.C. Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition D.C. Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington. D.C. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=3e1a8cef-ae9a-45e4-8c43-8eae4bef29f1&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch Ben Carson Say Muslims Shouldn't Be Elected President [Watch (HLS stream): Watch Ben Carson Say Muslims Shouldn't Be Elected President](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/7nmOLMvX.m3u8) (0:51)  _Published 2015-09-21. Watch Ben Carson Say Muslims Shouldn't Be Elected President_ by [Daniel White](https://time.com/author/daniel-white/) ## Daniel White Sep 22, 2015 8:17 PM UTC  Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson speaks at a campaign rally in Sharonville, Ohio, on Sept. 22, 2015. Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson speaks at a campaign rally in Sharonville, Ohio, on Sept. 22, 2015. Mark Lyons—Getty Images by [Daniel White](https://time.com/author/daniel-white/) ## Daniel White Sep 22, 2015 8:17 PM UTC Ben Carson appeared to [backpedal](http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/09/22/ben-carson-stops-in-cincinnati-after-muslim-comments/72606074/) Tuesday from [recent controversial comments](http://time.com/4041624/ben-carson-muslim-president/) in which he opposed the idea of a Muslim being President of the United States. “It seems to be hard for people actually to hear English and understand it,” the Republican presidential candidate told reporters Tuesday, during his first public appearance since a [controversial interview](http://time.com/4041624/ben-carson-muslim-president/) on Sunday. Carson, in remarks reported by the Cincinnati _Enquirer_, said Tuesday that he was open to candidates of all faiths “if they embrace American values and they place our Constitution at the top level, above their religious beliefs.” Carson’s initial comments promoted outrage from Muslim leaders, and forced other GOP candidates to take a position on the issue. The Constitution prohibits any religious test for office. In a Facebook post Monday night, Carson said he would not support a presidential candidate who had not renounced Sharia Law: “I know that there are many peaceful Muslims who do not adhere to these beliefs,” he said. “But until these tenants are fully renounced… I cannot advocate any Muslim candidate for President.” ## Transcript Wrap this up by finally dealing with what's been going on, Donald Trump in a [ UNKNOWN ] questioner that claimed that the president was Muslin. Let me ask you the question this way, should a president's faith matter? Should your faith matter to voters? I guess it depends on what that faith is. If it's inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter. But if it fits within the realm of America and consistent with the Constitution, no problem. So do you believe that Islam is consistent with the Constitution? No, I do not. I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that. 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