Ben Carson Doubles Down On Controversial Muslim Views, Says President Must ‘Reject The Tenets Of Islam’


Ben Carson seemingly doubled down on his statement that a Muslim could not run for the office of President of the United States of America as candidates must “reject the tenets of Islam.” Ben Carson stirred controversy when he said that he didn’t believe a Muslim should be able to run for presidency due to the way they treat women and people of different faiths. Carson went on to say for someone to run as president they must “reject the tenets of Islam” or he wouldn’t be comfortable with their candidacy.

The Daily Mail reports that Ben Carson was the center of controversy following his statement with Meet the Press in which he noted that he”would not advocate we put a Muslim in charge of this nation” going on to say he would “not agree with that.” CNN‘s Jake Tapper followed up on the statement, noting that it seemed that the presidential hopeful was calling all Muslim-Americans unpatriotic.

During the exchange, Carson said that he still stood by his previous statement that a Muslim could not be the President of the United States as the teachings of Islam conflict with our constitution. Carson pointed out that he objects to certain portions of the Islamic teachings regarding the treatment of women and people of other faiths. Carson says that Islam teaches that these people can be “dominated” and that it conflicts with our constitution that all people are created equal.

When pressed on the controversy of the issue, Carson said he believed much of it was blown up in the media as he feels most Americans agree with him.

“I think the statement stands. Is it possible that maybe the media thinks it’s a bigger deal than the American people do? Because American people, the majority of them, agree and they understand exactly what I’m saying.”

Tapper refused to drop the subject and called Carson out on making false assumptions about Muslims.

“I think one of the things is that you are a member of a church that there’s a lot of misinformation about, the Seventh Day Adventist Church, you’re an African American. You know what it is like for people to make false assumptions about you and you seem to be doing the same thing with Muslims.”

Carson wasn’t having any of it, and said he was not making false assumptions but simply pointing out that “if you accept all the tenets of Islam that you would have a very difficult time abiding under the Constitution of the United States.”

Carson’s staffer then interjected from the side of the room and said the interview was over. Carson politely thanked Tapper for the interview and exited the room.

What do you think about Ben Carson’s controversial statements about the potential of a Muslim running for president? Do you agree with Carson that a Muslim candidate would have a hard time abiding by the Constitution while following the Islamic faith?

[Image Credit: Getty Images/ Mark Lyons]

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