Donald Trump Wants to Monitor (and Potentially Shut Down) America's Mosques

The United States should fight violent religious extremism with prejudiced religious oppression, according to presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Trump appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe on Monday to discuss ISIS’s brutal attacks on Beirut and Paris on November 12-13 and the way he’d respond to a similar attack if he—perish the thought—were President.

After Trump shared his plans for foreign policy (which can be boiled down oil robbing and forcing unwilling countries to take up arms for us), the topic turned to homeland security.

“We know very well what you said about immigration and sealing the U.S. borders,” panelist Chris Jansing stated. “Beyond that, is there something you would do here in the homeland that you think is not being done now to protect United States citizens?”

“Well, you’re going to have to watch and study the mosques because a lot of talk is going on at the mosques,” Trump responded, then going on to complain about New York City mayor Bill de Blasio’s unconfirmed relaxed surveillance policies.

“I’m not sure it’s a fact,” Trump began. “But I heard that under the old regime, there was tremendous surveillance going on in and around the mosques of New York City, and right now, that’s been totally cut out.”

(I’m not sure it’s a fact, but I heard that Donald Trump has been actively wearing the original Leatherface mask from Texas Chainsaw Massacre out in public since 1974.)

Would Trump actively try to shut down mosques?

“Well, I’d hate to do it, but it’s something that you’re going to have to strongly consider. Some of the ideas and hatred—the absolute hatred—are coming from these areas. New York City, for example. We had a group of people—from what I understand—that really knew what they were doing, that were really studying the situation, and they’re not doing that anymore under the new mayor and I think that’s a mistake. So, it’s something that many people—not me—it’s something that many people are going to do.”

“Are you concerned about the backlash that can create against Muslims? And the hatred that that could breed?” asked Jansing in a follow-up.

Short answer: No, not really. Long answer (with more casual racism):

“There’s already hatred. The hatred is incredible. It’s embedded. The hatred is beyond belief. It’s greater than anybody understands and it’s already there. What? You think they think we’re great people? It’s already there. It’s a sad, sad situation. And I know so many people—Muslims!—who are such unbelievably great people and they’re being so badly tarnished by what’s happening now. It’s a shame.”