Trump says he can still meet Netanyahu anytime he wants

After calling for Muslims to be denied entry to the US and following the cancellation of a scheduled trip to Israel, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump says he can still meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu anytime he wants.

“They’re not distancing themselves [from me],” Trump said of the Israeli government. “I had a meeting with Netanyahu. I could be at the meeting right now,” he adds during an interview with CNN.

“[Netanyahu] did [condemn the call to deny Muslims entry to the US], and that was sort of interesting,” Trump continues. “He modestly condemned [the statements], and I thought it was sort of inappropriate that he condemned them, but that’s OK. He wanted to condemn them, that’s what he does.”

A Reuters/Ipsos survey released Friday shows that 35 percent of Republican voters support Trump, putting him far ahead of closest rival Ben Carson, who has the backing of just 12% of voters. Trailing the two were Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and former governor of Florida Jeb Bush, both with 10%.