Anderson Cooper to Trump Supporter: If Muslim Ban ‘Only a Suggestion,’ What About the Wall?

Anderson Cooper challenged Trump supporter Kayleigh McEnany to explain whether Trump’s campaign promises spoke to his earnest proposals or were simply the opening salvos in a negotiation.

Specifically, he referred to comments Trump made over the weekend suggesting that his plan to ban all Muslims from the U.S. was “only a suggestion.” When pressed on the issue last week, the presumptive GOP nominee conceded, “Sure, I’d back off on it.”

“Does that raise concerns for at you? Is he backtracking now for a general election?” Cooper asked McEnany.

McEnany said it was not concerning and made a distinction between what she called “end” policies and “mean” policies. The Muslim ban, she explained, was a “mean” policy because it was proposed in order to achieve the end of a more secure nation. Other policies — like overturning Roe v. Wade — were an “end” policy.

“So does he want a ban on Muslims or does he not want a ban on Muslims?” Cooper asked.

“No because that’s not — that has never been his end policy goal, keeping Muslims out of this country. His end policy goal was protecting our borders, and that was the means he suggested to that end.”

“But is he going to — I just don’t understand — is he going to pursue — and maybe we don’t know this — But do you think he is going to pursue the temporary ban on Muslims in the U.S. or do you think he’s not?”

“He’s going to suggest that,” she said, adding that he would certainly consult with the relevant authorities.

“So building the wall,” Cooper inquired, “is that a suggestion too?

“No,” she said. “I think that’s an ends policy, not a means policy. I don’t think that that is at all negotiable.”

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