Donald Trump calls for profiling of Muslims

Donald Trump has called for racial profiling to combat terror in the United States.

The technique uses ethnicity, race or religion as a means to determine whether someone is likely to commit a crime. In an interview on Sunday the presumptive Republican nominee said it was "not the worst thing to do" as he repeated his call to keep mosques under surveillance.

"I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump told CBS's Face the Nation. "You look at Israel and you look at others and they do it successfully.

"You know, I hate the concept of profiling. But we have to start using common sense and we have to use, you know, we have to use our heads."

The technique is outlawed in the European Union but there have been a number of reports that suggest people with Arabic or non-Jewish names travelling in Israel are stopped and checked more often than Israeli Jews.

In the aftermath of the Orlando terror attack that killed 49 in a gay nightclub, the New York billionaire repeated his call on a ban on Muslims entering the US.

Earlier on Sunday he also said he supported restrictions on gun control advocated by President Obama and Democrat candidate Hilary Clinton. The proposal, which will be voted on in the Senate on Monday, would ban the sale of guns to people on terror and no-fly lists.

"I'd like to see that," Trump told ABC. "It's just simpler."

He said he understood the concern of many Republicans about civil liberties but sided with most Democrats in supporting the measure.

"It could be that people are on there that shouldn't be," he said, but added: "We have to make sure that people that are terrorists or have even an inclination toward terrorism cannot buy weapons, guns."

His comments came as House Speaker Paul Ryan made it clear he would not stop a rebellion against Trump's nomination for President. The official announcement will be made at the Republican's national convention in July but most of the party's delegates strongly oppose Trump. As the most senior Republican in Congress, Ryan will chair the convention where the delegates will announce their candidate.

"They [the delegates] write the rules, they make the decisions," he told NBC's Meet the Press. "All I want to make sure is to make sure it is done above board, clearly, honestly and by the rules."

He added: "I see my role, now that he's got the plurality [of delegates], he actually won, is pretty much a ceremonial position. But the last thing I am going to do is weigh in and tell delegates what to do."

related articles
Orlando shooting: why Christians must not stay quiet
Orlando shooting: why Christians must not stay quiet

Orlando shooting: why Christians must not stay quiet

Do we need to talk about 'radical Islam'?
Do we need to talk about 'radical Islam'?

Do we need to talk about 'radical Islam'?

Trump ups campaign for Muslim ban following Orlando shooting
Trump ups campaign for Muslim ban following Orlando shooting

Trump ups campaign for Muslim ban following Orlando shooting

Project Religious Fear: Why we should stand up for Muslim freedoms
Project Religious Fear: Why we should stand up for Muslim freedoms

Project Religious Fear: Why we should stand up for Muslim freedoms

News
Marriage is the safest relationship, latest figures suggest
Marriage is the safest relationship, latest figures suggest

Of the eight children murdered during lockdown, 7 were killed thanks to the actions of a step parent or new partner.

Abortion rises in Northern Ireland for fifth year running
Abortion rises in Northern Ireland for fifth year running

Abortion was legalised in Northern Ireland in 2019.

Churches helping millions of Brits get by as living costs remain high
Churches helping millions of Brits get by as living costs remain high

Across the country, people are looking to the church for help.

Isaiah 41:10 is YouVersion's Bible verse of the year
Isaiah 41:10 is YouVersion's Bible verse of the year

Isaiah 41:10 had the highest international engagement on YouVersion during 2025, while in the UK it was Jeremiah 29:11 that topped the list.