Ben Carson has made it clear that he would not elect a Muslim for President of the United States when speaking with Chuck Todd on NBC’s Meet the Press .
The Republican presidential candidate said on Sunday that a president’s faith should matter “depending on what that faith is.”
Carson went into a little more detail with his beliefs, saying that a Muslim president would not align with American principles.
“I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that. If it’s [a president’s faith] inconsistent with the values and principles of America, then of course it should matter.”
The Washington Post reports that earlier in Ben Carson’s discussion with Chuck Todd, he said a president’s faith should not matter as long as it’s “within the realm of America and consistent with the Constitution, no problem.”
Upon more discussion, Carson said he did not believe the Islamic faith as was consistent with the constitution, but he did not specifically say why the Islamic faith did not fall in with the constitution.
ABC News reports that Ben Carson did say he would contemplate voting for a Muslim in Congress “[depending] on who that Muslim is and what their policies are.”
Congress already does have one Muslim, Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota.
Although Carson thinks a Muslim is not suitable to be the United States president, he does think a Muslim being a member of Congress is a “different story.”
“If there’s somebody who’s of any faith, but they say things, and their life has been consistent with things that will elevate this nation and make it possible for everybody to succeed, and bring peace and harmony, then I’m with them.”
Many people have openly accused President Barack Obama of being a Muslim. Although President Obama has said that he is a Christian, there are some who continue to question his faith and where he was born. Ben Carson stated he does believe Barack Obama is a Christian and was born in the United States.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said on Sunday that a Muslim in the White House is “something that could happen… Some people have said it already happened, frankly.”
Trump has been outspoken and skeptical about Obama’s faith and birthplace in the past.
Ben Carson said he has “no reason to doubt” what the United States president says.
[Photo by Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images News]