Updated Dec. 9: Is Donald Trump disqualified from running for president? A rash of anti-Trump Twitter users thought so on Tuesday...
They are mistaken.
Here's what caused the confusion...
The White House announced on Tuesday afternoon that the Republican front-runner should be disqualified from the 2016 presidential election.
For the White House administration to take direct part in an election is highly unusual. But in a press briefing at 2:05 p.m. ET, press secretary Josh Earnest attacked the real estate mogul's latest stance on eliminating the threat of terror at home.
"The fact is what Donald Trump said yesterday disqualifies him from serving as president," Earnest said.
He didn't stop there.
Earnest called Trump's policy "offensive" and "toxic." He urged other 2016 GOP presidential contenders to disavow their rival.
"For Republican candidates for president to stand by their pledge to support Mr. Trump, that in and of itself is disqualifying," Earnest continued. "The question now is about the rest of the Republican Party and whether or not they're going to be dragged into the dustbin of history with him. And right now the current trajectory is not very good."
Exactly how did Trump manage to compel the sitting administration to dive headfirst into the presidential race?
Take a look...
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Donald Trump Disqualified: Muslim Immigration Policy
On Monday night (Dec. 7), Trump's campaign published on its website a press release that stated, "Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on."
The page on Trump's campaign website that features his statement was inaccessible much of Tuesday afternoon due to high volume (following Earnest's statement):
We've got the full text for you right here:
(New York, NY) December 7th, 2015 - Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on. According to Pew Research, among others, there is great hatred towards Americans by large segments of the Muslim population. Most recently, a poll from the Center for Security Policy released data showing "25% of those polled agreed that violence against Americans here in the United States is justified as a part of the global jihad" and 51% of those polled, "agreed that Muslims in America should have the choice of being governed according to Shariah." Shariah authorizes such atrocities as murder against non-believers who won't convert, beheadings and more unthinkable acts that pose great harm to Americans, especially women.
Mr. Trump stated, "Without looking at the various polling data, it is obvious to anybody the hatred is beyond comprehension. Where this hatred comes from and why we will have to determine. Until we are able to determine and understand this problem and the dangerous threat it poses, our country cannot be the victims of horrendous attacks by people that believe only in Jihad, and have no sense of reason or respect for human life. If I win the election for President, we are going to Make America Great Again." - Donald J. Trump
Needless to say, Trump's controversial call for action sparked the White House's comments Tuesday. That in turn lead to the erroneous belief that Trump actually was disqualified from running for president.
But like it or not, that's not the case. Donald Trump is free to continue his campaign as always.
Stay tuned to Money Morning for more Donald Trump and election 2016. You can follow us on Twitter @moneymorning or like us on Facebook.
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