Nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development with a history of promoting anti-Muslim rhetoric
Retired brain surgeon and former presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson has a history of promoting anti-Muslim rhetoric and conspiracy theories in line with Islamophobic groups and individuals. The HUD secretary candidate has even appeared alongside anti-Muslim individuals to discuss these topics.
- Carson appeared on anti-Muslim conspiracy theorist Frank Gaffney’s “Secure Freedom Radio” program in 2015 to discuss the threat of the “global jihad” movement.
- He spoke at the anti-Muslim think tank Center for Security Policy’s “Iowa National Security Action Summit” in 2015.
- During a 2015 interview with “Meet the Press,” Carson claimed the U.S. should not elect a Muslim president, saying, “I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that.”
- Carson doubled down on his anti-Muslim statements, telling The Hill, “I could never support a candidate for President of the United States that was Muslim and had not renounced the central tenet of Islam: Sharia law.”
- Carson also told the The Hill he was worried about the Islamic doctrine of “taqiyya,” which he says “encourages you [Muslims] to lie to achieve your goals.” The concept of Taqiyya has been used by anti-Muslim propagandists to discredit Muslims and argue that they cannot be trusted.
- In 2014, John Phillip Sousa IV and Vernon Robinson formed a super-PAC titled The National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee. Sousa previously supported efforts to re-elect nativist Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, AZ. Sousa also serves on the anti-immigrant hate group Federation for American Immigration Reform’s national board of advisors. Robinson also has ties to the organized anti-immigrant movement as a member of the Black American Leadership Alliance (BALA).
Updated: 12/21/16