Donald Trump Would “Absolutely” Close Certain Mosques In Order To Fight ISIS, But Was Unsure If Doing So Would Be Legal. “This week, he [Donald Trump] has put American Muslims on edge by suggesting that he would be open to shutting down mosques as president. Asked on Fox Business Network if the United States should take action to close certain mosques as part of the fight against the Islamic State, as has happened in Britain, Mr. Trump said, ‘I would do that, absolutely.’ Mr. Trump then said that he was not sure about the legality of closing mosques, but that it was certainly something that should be looked at. ‘It depends if the mosque is, you know, loaded for bear,’ he said.” [New York Times, 10/22/15] Trump Said That He Would “Strongly Consider” Shutting Down Mosques As Part Of The Effort To Fight Against ISIS. “Trump first said last month that he would be open to shutting down mosques as part of the fight against the Islamic State, and on Monday he reiterated his view that the idea should be studied. ‘I would hate to do it, but it’s something that you’re going to have to strongly consider because some of the ideas and some of the hatred, the absolute hatred, is coming from these areas,’ Trump said on MSNBC’s ‘Morning Joe’ program.” [Boston Globe, 11/17/15] TRUMP CALLED FOR “VIGILANCE” AND SURVEILLANCE OF AMERICAN MOSQUES Donald Trump Called For The Surveillance Of Mosques. “Trump said later Monday on MSNBC that it's time to start surveillance of mosques, and said the U.S. should shut some down if they have radical leaders. ‘Well you're going to have to watch and study the mosques, because a lot of talk is going on at the mosques,’ Trump said.” [CNN, 11/16/15] Donald Trump Continued Using Loaded Rhetoric To Criticize Muslims — "We Have To Really Be Vigilant With Respect To The Muslim Population." “Trump has said his popularity has soared since the terrorist attacks in Paris earlier this month because voters want a president who will be tough on national security issues. Trump has been highly critical and skeptical of Muslims in recent days, and his loaded rhetoric continued at the rally on Monday night, drawing loud cheers. ‘We have to really be vigilant with respect to the Muslim population,’ Trump said at one point, calling for heavy surveillance of mosques, among other efforts.” [Washington Post, 11/23/15] WITH NO EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER, TRUMP INSISTED “PEOPLE” CHEERED IN THE STREETS OF JERSEY CITY AFTER SEEING THE TWIN TOWERS FALL ON 9/11 Trump Said That On 9/11, He Watched Thousands Of People Cheering In Jersey City As The World Trade Center Came Down. TRUMP: “Hey, I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down. And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. Thousands of people were cheering.” [Campaign Rally, Trump For President, Birmingham AL, 11/21/15] • Politifact Gave Donald Trump A “Pants On Fire” Rating For His Claim That Thousands In New Jersey Cheered When The World Trade Center Fell On September 11, 2001. “Trump said he ‘watched in Jersey City, N.J., where thousands and thousands of people were cheering’ as the World Trade Center collapsed. This defies basic logic. If thousands and thousands of people were celebrating the 9/11 attacks on American soil, many people beyond Trump would remember it. And in the 21st century, there would be video or visual evidence. Instead, all we found were a couple of news articles that described rumors of celebrations that were either debunked or unproven. Trump’s Confidential Page 160