Donald Trump Reacts To Backlash Over Anti-Muslim Comments, Says 'I Don’t Care'

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump brushed off reactions to his comments calling for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., despite widespread criticism from several political leaders. Trump addressed a Pearl Harbor Day rally at the U.S.S. Yorktown in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, late Monday, and reiterated his comments from earlier in the day.

“I wrote something today that was very salient, very important,” Trump said, adding that it may not have been “politically correct.” However, he added, according to the Guardian: “But. I. Don’t. Care.”

"We are out of control," Trump continued, according to the Guardian, adding: "We have no idea who's coming into this country. We have no idea if they love us or hate us. We have no idea if they want to bomb us."

He added: “By the way, I have friends who are Muslims. They are great people. But they know we have a problem because something is going on, and we can’t put up with it, folks, we can’t put up with it.”

Trump received heavy backlash over his statement, which many claimed was promoting Islamophobia. Contenders for the presidential race and members of both parties took to social media and released statements condemning his comments. Users on Twitter also slammed Trump, who made the comments in the wake of the shooting at San Bernardino, California, last week and the Paris attacks last month.

Trump called for "a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on." He added in the statement: "Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life. If I win the election for President, we are going to Make America Great Again."

Some of the reactions on Trump's comments are seen below.

Fellow republican hopeful, Texas senator Ted Cruz, said in a statement, cited by the Associated Press (AP): "Well, that is not my policy. I've introduced legislation in the Senate that would put in place a three-year moratorium on refugees coming from countries where ISIS or al-Qaida control a substantial amount of territory. And the reason is that's where the threat is coming from."

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, another Republican candidate in the presidential race, reportedly said: "There are folks in this race who don't care about what the law says because they're used to being able to just fire people indiscriminately on television. So, they don't have to worry about what laws say or not say."

Meanwhile, Republican candidate Ben Carson said: "Everyone visiting our country should register and be monitored during their stay as is done in many countries. I do not and would not advocate being selective on one's religion."

Bernie Sanders, Vermont senator and Democratic candidate for president, said, according to AP: "Demagogues throughout our history have attempted to divide us based on race, gender, sexual orientation or country of origin. Now, Trump and others want us to hate all Muslims. The United States is a great nation when we stand together. We are a weak nation when we allow racism and xenophobia to divide us."