Florida Gov. Rick Scott declined to comment on Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s recent comment that he thinks “Islam hates us.”
Trump made the assertion CNN interview with Anderson Cooper aired Wednesday.
In an interview Thursday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Scott passed on weighing in on Trump’s remarks and instead commented on Florida’s diversity.
“As you know in Florida,we are the best melting pot in world. We love everyone coming to the state,” he said, adding, however, that “After the Paris bombings, I did ask the federal government not to allow any Syrian refugees to come to Florida until we vetted them.”
Pressed by host Joe Scarborough “if you think Muslims hate Americans,” the Florida governor again continued to avoid the question, and the MSNBC hosts eventually went to commercial break.
Reports surfaced on Super Tuesday that the Florida governor was set to endorse Trump, however he has yet to do so ahead of the state’s highly contested primary.
On Thursday, Scott made it clear he was not planning on throwing his support behind any GOP candidate ahead of Tuesday’s Florida primary vote.
“No, I’m not endorsing before primary. Remember my race in 2010 when the establishment wanted me to get out of race? I trust the voters to make good decision,” Scott said.