Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) on Thursday said it is a relief that presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump appears to be wavering on his call to temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States.
“It was a good start today when we heard that the ban on Muslims was merely a suggestion and not a firm policy,” Flake said on MSNBC when asked how Trump could win his support.
“You know, if it’s a temporary ban that’s just temporary during the campaign, that’s one thing,” Flake added. “If he’s planning to take it beyond, that’s another.
“It’s a good sign, frankly, that he’s willing to meet with members who don’t share some of his positions and that he seems to be softening some of his positions.”
Trump, who visited Capitol Hill on Thursday, this week suggested that he isn’t firmly behind his controversial proposal to ban Muslims from entering the U.S., which he had said would be needed for a time to help the country catch up to terrorist threats.
“It hasn’t been called for yet,” Trump said on Fox News Radio’s “Kilmeade and Friends.” “Nobody’s done it. This is just a suggestion until we find out what’s going on.”
Flake on Thursday said that Trump’s unpredictability makes it hard to know where he really stands.
“We’ll see where he is a week from now and if he’s maintained it,” Flake said. “We just don’t know. He’s gone back and forth on a number of these issues a number of times.”
Trump proposed his temporary ban on Muslim emigration last December following a string of terrorist attacks from Islamic extremists. He said on Monday that he could offer a caveat for people like Sadiq Khan, London’s first Muslim mayor.
“There will always be exceptions,” Trump said, adding that he hopes Khan does a “great job” in his position.
Khan on Tuesday said that Trump’s view of Islam is “ignorant” and would inspire extremists.