In an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Wednesday night, Donald Trump defended his proposal to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the U.S. after the host suggested the idea was “un-American and wrong.”
“Isn’t it un-American and wrong to discriminate against people based on their religion?” Kimmel asked to applause.
“But Jimmy the problem—I’m for it!—but look,” Trump said, “we have people coming into our country who are looking to do tremendous harm.”
Trump said some of his Muslim friends called him to support his idea. “Those may have been crank calls,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel then asked if Trump believed the idea that his comments could help ISIS recruit Muslims who have become disaffected with the U.S. “I don’t buy that,” Trump said.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Introducing the 2024 TIME100 Next
- The Reinvention of J.D. Vance
- How to Survive Election Season Without Losing Your Mind
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Scams
- Did the Pandemic Break Our Brains?
- The Many Lives of Jack Antonoff
- 33 True Crime Documentaries That Shaped the Genre
- Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women
Contact us at letters@time.com