'I’m the worst thing that ever happened to ISIS' - Donald Trump

Donald Trump

In an exclusive interview with ABC News’ Barbara Walters today, Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, currently at the center of a political firestorm over his proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S., responded to critics’ concerns that his rhetoric might help ISIS attract new recruits.

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In his words;

“I’m the worst thing that ever happened to ISIS. The people in my party fully understand that — they’re running against me. For the most part, they have no poll numbers. I’m leading by a lot. They get it. They’re trying to get publicity for themselves,” Trump said.

“You know when I came out against illegal immigration, everybody said the same thing. Two weeks later, everybody was on my side, including the members of my own party.”

Trump released a statement on Monday calling for a “total and complete shutdown” of Muslims entering the U.S. until “our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”

“It’s short term,” he said today of the proposed ban. “Let our country get its act together. … It could be very quickly if our country could get its act together. … We need toughness and smartness and we have to do it quickly.”

When asked by Walters whether he regretted the proposal, Trump said: “Not at all. We have to do the right thing. Somebody in this country has to say what’s right.”

“I’m a person who has common sense. I’m a smart person. I know how to run things. I know how to make America great again. This is about making America great,” he said.

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