Elections

Trump Suggests Mass Deportations, Muslim Ban Negotiable

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Jamie Weinstein Senior Writer
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Donald Trump says his proposals to ban Muslims from entering the United States and deport all illegal immigrants are negotiable.

In an interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier that aired Saturday night, Trump conceded that some of the provocative policy proposals he has emphasized on the campaign trail could be altered in a deal with Congress.

Asked specifically about his call to deport the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants residing in the United States and his proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the country, Trump said that while “certain things will stay exactly the same,” he conceded “certain things will be changed.”

“[W]e have to negotiate,” Trump told Baier. “I can’t make these decisions myself.”

“I can’t just take executive orders like Obama,” Trump added. “It’s me and lots of congressmen and lots of senators and lots of everything, so I would say that certain things will be changed, certain things will stay exactly the same.”

Read the full exchange between Baier and Trump below:

Bret Baier: Congressman Chris Collins from New York endorsed you, he’s a member of your congressional leadership team. You know, he’s against mass deportation of illegal immigrants. He’s against a temporary ban on Muslims. He says that when you become the nominee and then, his idea, when you become president, that you are going to be more nuanced than you are on the trail. What do you say to that?

Donald Trump: Well were going to see. Look, everything, honestly, is going to be up — and we have to negotiate. I can’t make these decisions myself. We have Congressmen to deal with…

Baier: So you are open to moving from some places.

Trump: Well we have to deal with a lot of people. I can’t just take executive orders like Obama. It’s me and lots of congressmen and lots of senators and lots of everything, so I would say that certain things will be changed, certain things will stay exactly the same.

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