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Donald Trump Pushes Back at British Petition to Bar Him Donald Trump Pushes Back at British Petition to Bar Him
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — The Republican presidential contender Donald J. Trump has lashed out at a petition seeking to bar him from entering Britain, saying that politicians there should thank him rather than “pandering to political correctness.”LONDON — The Republican presidential contender Donald J. Trump has lashed out at a petition seeking to bar him from entering Britain, saying that politicians there should thank him rather than “pandering to political correctness.”
Mr. Trump’s comments on Monday that foreign Muslims should be barred from entering the United States prompted the online petition, which called for him to be refused entry into Britain on the basis of laws against hate speech.Mr. Trump’s comments on Monday that foreign Muslims should be barred from entering the United States prompted the online petition, which called for him to be refused entry into Britain on the basis of laws against hate speech.
The petition had garnered more than 410,000 signatures as of Thursday morning, easily passing the threshold of 100,000 supporters that requires Parliament to consider debating the issue.The petition had garnered more than 410,000 signatures as of Thursday morning, easily passing the threshold of 100,000 supporters that requires Parliament to consider debating the issue.
Mr. Trump has also gained some support in Britain, however, and a counterpetition titled “Don’t Ban Trump From the United Kingdom” had more than 10,000 signatures on Thursday. Calling the proposal to bar Mr. Trump “illogical,” the counterpetition urged Britons to “mind our own business.”Mr. Trump has also gained some support in Britain, however, and a counterpetition titled “Don’t Ban Trump From the United Kingdom” had more than 10,000 signatures on Thursday. Calling the proposal to bar Mr. Trump “illogical,” the counterpetition urged Britons to “mind our own business.”
“We shouldn’t be banning people for their opinions on domestic actions in a U.S. political race that doesn’t concern us,” the petition says, noting the potential damage to the close bonds between Britain and the United States if Mr. Trump wins the presidency.“We shouldn’t be banning people for their opinions on domestic actions in a U.S. political race that doesn’t concern us,” the petition says, noting the potential damage to the close bonds between Britain and the United States if Mr. Trump wins the presidency.
Mr. Trump shot back on Wednesday against his critics in Britain, saying that the proposed ban had made him reconsider his investments in Britain.Mr. Trump shot back on Wednesday against his critics in Britain, saying that the proposed ban had made him reconsider his investments in Britain.
“U.K. politicians should be thanking me instead of pandering to political correctness,” the newspaper The Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying. “ I only said what needed to be said, and when I am elected no one will be tougher or smarter than me. I will work very hard and effectively to defeat terrorism.”“U.K. politicians should be thanking me instead of pandering to political correctness,” the newspaper The Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying. “ I only said what needed to be said, and when I am elected no one will be tougher or smarter than me. I will work very hard and effectively to defeat terrorism.”
In criticizing British politicians, Mr. Trump invoked his investments in Scotland, including Trump International Golf Links, a golf course in Aberdeen, and his investment in the redevelopment of Turnberry Resort, a luxury resort on the Ayrshire coast.In criticizing British politicians, Mr. Trump invoked his investments in Scotland, including Trump International Golf Links, a golf course in Aberdeen, and his investment in the redevelopment of Turnberry Resort, a luxury resort on the Ayrshire coast.
“If they were going to do this, they should have informed me prior to my major investment in this 200 million pound development, which will totally revitalize that vast region of Scotland,” he said. The investment is equivalent to $300 million.“If they were going to do this, they should have informed me prior to my major investment in this 200 million pound development, which will totally revitalize that vast region of Scotland,” he said. The investment is equivalent to $300 million.
The petition against him was actually drafted on Nov. 28 — more than two weeks before Mr. Trump made his remarks about Muslims — by Suzanne Kelly, who writes for a community website in Aberdeen and has been investigating work at Mr. Trump’s golf course there in the face of local opposition, The Guardian reported.The petition against him was actually drafted on Nov. 28 — more than two weeks before Mr. Trump made his remarks about Muslims — by Suzanne Kelly, who writes for a community website in Aberdeen and has been investigating work at Mr. Trump’s golf course there in the face of local opposition, The Guardian reported.
Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, has revoked Mr. Trump’s status as a business ambassador to Scotland, and Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen has stripped him of an honorary degree.Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister of Scotland, has revoked Mr. Trump’s status as a business ambassador to Scotland, and Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen has stripped him of an honorary degree.
Prime Minister David Cameron, of the Conservative Party, castigated Mr. Trump’s position as “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong,” while J.K. Rowling, the author of the best-selling Harry Potter books, described Mr. Trump as worse than the series’ arch-villain, Lord Voldemort.Prime Minister David Cameron, of the Conservative Party, castigated Mr. Trump’s position as “divisive, unhelpful and quite simply wrong,” while J.K. Rowling, the author of the best-selling Harry Potter books, described Mr. Trump as worse than the series’ arch-villain, Lord Voldemort.
Zac Goldsmith, a Conservative Party candidate for mayor of London, called Mr. Trump “repellent” and “one of the most malignant figures in modern politics,” according to news reports.Zac Goldsmith, a Conservative Party candidate for mayor of London, called Mr. Trump “repellent” and “one of the most malignant figures in modern politics,” according to news reports.
In an interview with CNN Tonight on Wednesday, Mr. Trump said he was “doing good for the Muslims.”In an interview with CNN Tonight on Wednesday, Mr. Trump said he was “doing good for the Muslims.”
“Many Muslim friends of mine are in agreement with me,” he added. “They say, ‘Donald, you brought something up to the fore that is so brilliant and so fantastic.’ ”“Many Muslim friends of mine are in agreement with me,” he added. “They say, ‘Donald, you brought something up to the fore that is so brilliant and so fantastic.’ ”
Mr. Trump said that “one of the most important people in the Middle East” had called him on Wednesday to say “Donald, you’re doing a great service.”Mr. Trump said that “one of the most important people in the Middle East” had called him on Wednesday to say “Donald, you’re doing a great service.”
But the global fury over Mr. Trump continued. In an apparent jab at Mr. Trump, Muhammad Ali, 73, the former boxing world champion, who converted to Islam in the 1970s, said it was necessary for Muslims to stand up to those who conflated Islam with radicalism.But the global fury over Mr. Trump continued. In an apparent jab at Mr. Trump, Muhammad Ali, 73, the former boxing world champion, who converted to Islam in the 1970s, said it was necessary for Muslims to stand up to those who conflated Islam with radicalism.
“We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda,” Mr. Ali said in a statement titled “Presidential Candidates Proposing to Ban Muslim Immigration to the United States,” which did not identify Mr. Trump by name. “We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda,” Mr. Ali said in a statement to NBC News titled “Presidential Candidates Proposing to Ban Muslim Immigration to the United States,” which did not identify Mr. Trump by name.
He 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.” Referring to recent attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., he 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.”
The petition to bar Mr. Trump from entering Britain has more signatures than a recent petition against airstrikes on Syria and one calling for the legalization of marijuana sales, according to the British Parliament’s website. But so far, it has received less support than a call for Britain to accept more asylum seekers and to increase support for refugees in Britain, which had 446,643 signatures at midday Thursday.The petition to bar Mr. Trump from entering Britain has more signatures than a recent petition against airstrikes on Syria and one calling for the legalization of marijuana sales, according to the British Parliament’s website. But so far, it has received less support than a call for Britain to accept more asylum seekers and to increase support for refugees in Britain, which had 446,643 signatures at midday Thursday.