Trump’s Bizarre, Hateful Rant Demonstrates Need to End Muslim Ban by Passing the NO BAN Act

WASHINGTON, DC — During a rambling White House press conference on Tuesday afternoon, President Trump claimed that former Vice President Joe Biden would “end all travel bans, including from jihadist regions” and added “we don’t want people that are going to come in and blow up our cities.” The following is a statement about President Trump’s bigoted comments from Muslim Advocates Special Counsel for Anti-Muslim Bigotry Madihha Ahussain:

“As part of an embarrassing, rambling rant, President Trump shamefully and outrageously smeared the countless families who have been torn apart by his Muslim Ban by recycling the lazy, false stereotype that all Muslims are terrorists. These unhinged, baseless comments expose the fact that his Muslim Ban is about one thing only: bigotry.

Trump ran on anti-Muslim hate in 2016 and it is clear that he is doing it again in 2020. Thankfully, we have a historic chance to end this naked bigotry. Next Wednesday, the House of Representatives will hold a vote on the NO BAN Act, a first-of-its-kind Muslim civil rights bill that would end Trump’s Muslim Ban and prevent future presidents from enacting similar discriminatory bans. I urge all House members to stand up for the dignity of Muslims and land the biggest blow yet to the president’s hateful, cruel, anti-immigrant agenda by voting to pass the NO BAN Act.”

The National Origin-Based Antidiscrimination for Nonimmigrants Act was introduced in April 2019 by Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA). A companion bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE). Muslim Advocates worked with both offices to help shape the legislation and led the NO BAN Act Coalition, along with a coalition letter of nearly 400 faith, national security and civil rights organizations in support of the bill. Muslim Advocates also worked with Postmates and Airbnb as they led a coalition of more than a dozen leading corporations in support of the bill, helped lead efforts to get House Democrats to sign on as co-sponsors of the bill and collected the stories of people impacted by the ban.

In September 2019, Muslim Advocates Executive Director Farhana Khera testified at the first ever congressional hearing on the Muslim Ban. Additionally, Muslim Advocates met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and led a coalition of civil rights leaders to urge the Speaker to ensure that the bill would receive a vote in the House.

Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination. 

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