Elections

Trump Not Softening Muslim Immigration Ban But ‘I’m Always Flexible On Issues’ [VIDEO]

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Steve Guest Media Reporter
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Donald Trump said Friday that he is not “softening” his stance on a Muslim immigration moratorium but argued that “I’m always flexible on issues.”

Appearing on NBC’s “Today” on Friday, Trump said, “We have really a problem with radical Islamic terrorism, and we have a president that doesn’t want to use the term. He refuses to use the term, even though there are so many problems.” (RELATED: Trump Calls For Moratorium On Muslims Entering United States)

Lauer asked Trump, “Speaker Ryan said at the meeting that there are clearly issues on which you two disagree. We know that one of those is on that ban on Muslims. He is not for it, you have said you are. But in recent days, you’ve called it more of a suggestion than a proposal. I’d like you to clarify that for me. … Are you softening your stance?

“Well, I’m not the president right now, so anything I suggest is really a suggestion. And if I were president, I’d put in legislation into what I’d have to do,” Trump said.

“But would you put in legislation to —” Lauer asked.

“I can tell you — no, I’m looking at it very strongly,” Trump said.

Later, Lauer asked, “But I’m just getting to the point now. Are you softening your stance and using subtle differences in words simply to be more moderate to try to attract people like Speaker Ryan and to get an endorsement?”

“No, I’m not softening my stance at all, but I’m always flexible on issues. I am totally flexible on very, very many issues and I think you have to be that way,” Trump claimed. “But I’m not softening my stance. We have a major problem, and we have to look at the problem. We have to solve the problem.”

“We have a president that doesn’t even talk about the problem. He won’t even use the words. He won’t even call it by its right name.”

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