Speaker Ryan Condemns Trump’s Call for Muslim Ban: ‘This is Not Conservatism’

Monica Sanchez | December 8, 2015
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House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) condemned Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a news conference on Tuesday for his proposal to ban all Muslims from entering the United States.

Following a closed-door meeting with his Republican colleagues at the Capitol Hill Club, Ryan issued a statement criticizing the GOP presidential front-runner for his remarks.

“Normally I do not comment on what’s going on in the presidential election,” he began. “I will take an exception today.”

“This is not conservatism,” Ryan argued. “What was proposed yesterday is not what this party stands for -- and more importantly, it’s not what this country stands for.”

“Not only are there many Muslims serving in our armed forces dying for this country,” he went on. “There are Muslims serving right here in the House working everyday to uphold the Constitution..." 

"I told our members to always strive to live up to our highest ideals," said Ryan, "to uphold those principles in the Constitution on which we swear every two years that we will defend.”

The Speaker argued that Trump's proposed ban would violate both the First Amendment protecting freedom of religion and the 14th Amendment guaranteeing due process. 

Listen to his remarks in the video clip below.

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