Pentagon rebuffs Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims

The Defense Department on Tuesday rebuffed Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the U.S.  

“Anything that creates tensions and creates the notion that the United States is at odds with the Muslim faith and Islam would be counterproductive to our efforts right now, and totally contrary to our values,” Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said. 

{mosads}On whether the Pentagon opposed the ban, Cook said, “I’m not going to get into domestic politics.” 

But, he reiterated, “Anything that tries to challenge American values on this would be certainly something of concern to the Department of Defense, as it would be across the country.” 

Cook noted that there were Muslims “serving patriotically in the U.S. military today, as there are people of many faiths.” 

He also highlighted that the U.S. was partnering with Muslim nations in the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or ISIL). 

“Anything that bolsters ISIL’s narrative and pits the United States against the Muslim faith is — is certainly not only contrary to our values, but contrary to our national security,” he added. 

Earlier, White House press secretary Josh Earnest slammed Trump’s proposal. 

“What Donald Trump said yesterday disqualifies him from serving as president,” Earnest said, comparing the real estate mogul to a “carnival barker” while mocking his “fake hair.”

Earnest also called Trump’s proposal dubbed “morally reprehensible.” 

Trump’s proposal has garnered criticism from Republican candidates and lawmakers, as well.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wisc.) bashed Trump’s remarks as “not conservatism.”  

“What was proposed yesterday is not what this party stands for and, more importantly, it’s not what this country stands for,” Ryan said at the Capitol Tuesday.