Trump says Muslim ban 'just a suggestion' ahead of GOP meeting
Billionaire Donald Trump appeared to walk back his call for a wholesale ban on Muslims entering the US on Wednesday, in the latest sign he is moving to the centre after becoming the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee.
"We have a serious problem, it’s a temporary ban, it hasn't been called for yet, nobody's done it - this is just a suggestion until we find out what's going on," Trump told Fox News Radio.
The comments came a day before Trump met with top Republican leaders in an effort to unify the party behind him, a process that could see the real estate mogul soften his sometimes vitriolic rheteroic against Muslims, Latinos and other US minorities.
Trump fell short of winning an endorsement from House Speaker Paul Ryan in their meeting on Thursday, but both men said they had taken a "positive step" toward unifying the party behind the New York billionaire's White House run.
"Great day in D.C. with @SpeakerRyan and Republican leadership. Things working out really well!" Trump said on Twitter.
In a joint statement afterward, Trump and Ryan called their meeting a "positive step toward unification" and stressed the need to defeat Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton in November.
But Ryan, who declared last week that he was "just not ready" to support Trump as the party's flagbearer, withheld his endorsement.
"I think this is going in a positive direction and I think this is a first very encouraging meeting," Ryan told reporters. "But again, in 45 minutes you don't litigate all of the processes and all the issues and the principles that we are talking about."
Despite outstanding differences, Trump appeared to strike a delicate peace with the party establishment he had been so fond of attacking while on the campaign trail.
"While we were honest about our few differences, we recognise that there are also many important areas of common ground," the pair said in their statement.
"We will be having additional discussions, but remain confident there's a great opportunity to unify our party and win this fall, and we are totally committed to working together to achieve that goal."
Their talks also included Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, and were followed by a broader meeting between Trump and House GOP leaders, including Cathy McMorris-Rodgers, the top-ranked Republican woman in Congress.
The real estate mogul, who has never run for elective office before, also met with top Senate Republicans, including Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has offered his support of Trump.
'Clear the air'
Concerns about the tone and substance of Trump's campaign have trickled down to many in the congressional rank and file who fear a Trump nomination could doom their efforts to win the presidency and hold their majorities in the Senate and House of Representatives.
Charlie Dent, a moderate House Republican who was not in Thursday's meetings, told reporters Trump's pilgrimage to Washington was "an opportunity to clear the air".
Trump "has to convince many Americans, including myself, that he's ready to lead this great nation," he said. "At this point I haven't been persuaded, but I'm ready to listen."
The brash tycoon's efforts will tell whether he will have the full support of his party as he goes into what promises to be a brutal election fight.
Ryan, who at 46 is a generation younger than the 69-year-old Trump, took up the speakership last October, pledging to modernise the party's image and reach out to minority groups.
But many GOP luminaries have watched aghast as the provocative candidate has insulted Mexicans, demeaned women and called for a ban on Muslims entering the US.
Ryan said he discussed "core" conservative principles with Trump, including constitutional and right-to-life issues and the separation of powers.
"I do believe that we are now planting the seeds to get ourselves unified, to bridge the gaps and differences," Ryan said.
Outside RNC headquarters about a dozen protesters chanted "Undocumented! Unafraid!" in defiance of Trump's vow to deport millions of illegal immigrants if elected.
Tourists and lawmakers snapped pictures, while one man wore a large papier mache Trump head and rattled off elements of Trump's rhetoric.
Trump ignored the protesters and entered the building through a back door.
While many upper-echelon party figures, including 2012 nominee Mitt Romney and the two Bush presidents, are opposed to Trump, there are signs of a growing move to unite behind him.
The chairmen of seven House committees endorsed the tycoon Wednesday, saying in a statement released by Trump that "it is paramount that we coalesce around the Republican nominee" and maintain GOP majorities in Congress.
Stay informed with MEE's newsletters
Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
