Obama attacks Trump's ban on Muslims: It is 'not the America we want'

Donald Trump's proposed Muslim ban was attacked by President Barack Obama on Tuesday as "not the America we want".

An angry Obama savaged the plans and said if Muslim-Americans were treated differently it would create a divide between the West and the Muslim world and so make the US would become less safe. The President's intervention came after Trump extended his suggestion to ban people from any country with a history of terror attacks against the US.

Trump said the attack on an Orlando nightclub, the worst mass shooting in American's history, justified his plans. He said the proposals could be put into place given the President's power to "suspend entry into the country of any class of persons that the President deems detrimental to the interests or security of the United States".

The President's strongly worded attack on Trump's plans did not name the presumptive Republican nominee for president. But he said religious freedom was fundamental to the US's history and said having a "religious test" for immigration would be against the constitution.

Obama also pointed out that the recent terror attack in Orlando had been carried out by a US citizen.

In a statement less than 24 hours after the shooting in Florida, Trump called for President Obama to resign because he would not use the words "radical Islam" in his response.

But Obama ignored his call. "If we fall into the trap of painting all Muslims with a broad brush and imply that we are at war with an entire religion, then we are doing the terrorists' work for them," he said.

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

Archbishops Welby and Sentamu: It is 'absolute call' on Christians to support LGBTI people

Archbishops Welby and Sentamu: It is 'absolute call' on Christians to support LGBTI people

Orlando shootings: There\'s only one answer to people who peddle hate
Orlando shootings: There's only one answer to people who peddle hate

Orlando shootings: There's only one answer to people who peddle hate

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

Do we need to talk about 'radical Islam'?

Orlando: The images that show the world remembering a tragedy

Orlando: The images that show the world remembering a tragedy

News
The story of New Year’s resolutions
The story of New Year’s resolutions

1 January is when people traditionally start the new year with a fresh resolution. This is the story …

Young people more grateful to God, study finds
Young people more grateful to God, study finds

A new survey has suggested that 18 to 34 year olds are more likely to believe in God and have transcendental experiences.

Nigerian government accused of being in denial about persecution of Christians
Nigerian government accused of being in denial about persecution of Christians

How can thousands of slain Christians not be persecution?

Turkey arrested 115 suspected ISIS members, thwarting Christmas and New Year plots against non-Muslims
Turkey arrested 115 suspected ISIS members, thwarting Christmas and New Year plots against non-Muslims

Turkey has been relatively successful in preventing attacks since 2017.