Donald Trump is continuing to surge in the polls despite his recent anti-Muslim rhetoric.
Donald Trump is surging in the polls. The latest numbers from a CBS News poll show him climbing, with 35 percent support among Republican voters. In second place is Ted Cruz, far behind with 16 percent.
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Trump told Bill O'Reilly he won't back down from his anti-Muslim rhetoric, despite the furor over his call to ban Muslims from entering America.
O’Reilly told the GOP front runner on Wednesday: “I don't think you thought through the consequences of banning an entire religion from entering the U.S. That's my opinion."
"Bill, Bill, Bill... I thought through everything - believe me,” Trump responded.
The host of the O’Reilly Factor said: “If you say no Muslims can travel here from overseas you're hurting the United State's position against ISIS. We need the friendly Muslim nations. You can't insult them like that. You can't!”
“Bill, I disagree. People have to be vetted,” Trump replied.
“They have to be vetted but you can't insult the whole religion,” the host said.
Trump then echoed the same sentiment he shared on Live with Regis and Michael earlier in the day: “This is not about religion, it's about security.”
The billionaire suggested once again about the possibility of breaking from the Republican Party and running as an independent.
"If they don't treat me with a certain amount of decorum and respect. If they don't treat me as the front-runner. If the playing field is not level, then certainly all options are open," he told CNN’s Don Lemon on Wednesday night.
Trump vowed to not run as an independent in September when he signed a pledge.
Sarah Palin, who famously shared a slice of pizza with Trump during a 2011 publicity tour, expressed support for Trump in a lengthy Facebook post.
She wrote: "Trump’s temporary ban proposal is in the context of doing all we can to force the feds to acknowledge their lack of strategy to deal with terrorism.”
Palin’s support was countered by boxing legend Mohammed Ali, who is Muslim, released a statement saying; “We have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anybody.”
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The Champ added: “Speaking as someone who has never been accused of political correctness, I believe that our political leaders should use their position to bring understanding about the religion of Islam and clarify that these misguided murderers have perverted people’s views on what Islam really is."
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