From the Liveblog of
Sunday, December 13, 2015
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%.
