A Republican congressman Tuesday called for Donald Trump to withdraw from the race for the White House because of the presidential candidate’s controversial proposal to bar Muslims from entering the United States.
“We must always insist on a security test but we must never require a religious test,” said Rep. David Jolly, R-Florida, a supporter of Jeb Bush for president, in a powerful speech on the House floor. “It is time for my side of the aisle to have one less candidate in the race for the White House. It is time for Donald Trump to withdraw from the race.”
Jolly, who described himself as a born-again Christian, said the “beautiful thing about our country” is that he can stand on the House floor and declare that “without fear of reprisal.”
He added: “But if Donald Trump has his way, we may not have the liberty to do that anymore.”
Jolly, a second-term lawmaker whose district is near Tampa, is running in a Republican primary to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, who is also running for president.