US President Donald Trump has pledged to completely prohibit the application of Islamic Sharia law in the United States, arguing that the country must remain governed by a single legal system.
Speaking in an interview with conservative broadcaster Glenn Beck, Trump said Sharia law was incompatible with the American legal system and would not be allowed to gain a foothold in the country.
“When it comes to the implementation of Sharia, I say absolutely that this does not suit our country,” Trump said. “There is no implementation of Sharia here, but there are nevertheless small pockets of it, as you know.”
Trump said his administration would act whenever such practices emerged, describing the issue as one of protecting America’s existing legal framework.
“I will completely ban everything related to Sharia,” he said. “It appears in our country to a limited extent, and when we see it, we put an end to it. But we must eliminate its presence.”
The president praised the United States’ system of having one law applicable to all citizens, calling it “great” and “the best,” despite acknowledging that it could sometimes be frustrating.
Trump also pointed to London and Paris, claiming that Sharia had developed into what he described as an alternative way of life in parts of the two European capitals.
“I reject it. Look at London and Paris. It almost represents a second way of life. This is ridiculous,” he said.
The president has repeatedly raised concerns about Sharia law and the influence of political Islam in Western countries. During his address to the United Nations last year, he criticised London Mayor Sadiq Khan and claimed that authorities in the British capital were moving toward Sharia-based practices.
Trump has also targeted several Muslim-American Democratic politicians during recent political campaigning, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and US Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, accusing them of promoting radical political agendas.
His latest remarks signal that opposition to Sharia law and political Islam will remain part of his administration’s broader domestic and immigration policies.
