House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI)
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday reaffirmed his opposition to a ban on Muslims entering the country.
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump renewed calls for such a ban on Monday, following Sunday’s mass shooting in Orlando by a U.S. citizen whose parents were from Afghanistan. During a press conference Tuesday morning, Ryan said he does not think a Muslim ban is in the nation’s interest, noting that it does not reflect the principles of the country or the Republican Party. Instead, Ryan said the nation does need to have a “robust security test” so law enforcement can better control who comes and goes. The Janesville Republican said such a system would make sure officials have properly vetted a person and any security threat they may pose.
Ryan noted that legislation imposing such a system has passed the House, but remains blocked by Democrats in the Senate. He also focused criticism on President Obama’s administration for not doing enough to combat the threat of radical Islamic terrorism. “We need to up our game to deal with and confront this real threat. We don’t think the administration has done a good enough job confronting this threat,” Ryan said.
Trump on Monday also accused American Muslims of harboring terrorists and failing to report them. Ryan defended that segment of the population. “This is a war with radical Islam, it’s not a war with Islam,” Ryan said. “Muslims are our partners. The vast vast majority of Muslims in this country and around the world are moderate, they’re peaceful, they’re tolerant.”