Donald Trump, the Republican presidential front-runner, called Dec. 7 for a ban on Muslims entering the United States. At a public event, Trump read a statement issued by his campaign office: “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.” While claiming to be the voice of the silent majority, Trump says there is great hatred toward Americans by large segments of the Muslim population.
Trump’s words generated a global outrage, including in his own Republican Party, where various key names asked him to withdraw from the race claiming that by uttering such words he had disqualified himself from the presidency. Yet, Trump neither retracted nor apologized for his statement.
In Turkey, Trump succeeded in unifying opposing camps of the media, all of which reported his words with deep shock and condemnation. Most media commentators in Turkey are convinced that Trump will become the next US president because of his lead in the polls. A joke now heard in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul goes like this: "Trump will be kicking out a black family from the White House, and it would not be his first time!” Trump’s less flattering photos appeared on Twitter with comments such as, “If this guy becomes the next US president, Muslims won’t be able to enter the US.” These headlines were promptly followed by articles about who Trump is, and what he has said so far. One popular article included 10 controversial Trump statements from his presidential campaign, with a focus on his plans mandating registration for all Muslims in the United States, keeping a database on them and building a wall on the Mexican border.
As reactions on Turkish social media were abundant, Twitter users were quick to remind Trump of his business investments in Turkey and the Muslim world. Several Twitter users called for a boycott of the Trump brand. "Take your partner and your skyscraper and leave Turkey," read multiple tweets. Some stated that Trump was uncomfortable with Islam, but happy to earn profits from Muslims.
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