Donald Trump is a highly polarizing figure and his stance on the Muslim community in the United States is no different. To his supporters, the Republican candidate's distrustful rhetoric on the demographic is a strong response to global threats. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there is also growing concern about what a decisive push against both immigrants and Muslims would mean for the country.

According to a report from Washington Post, Trump remains very outspoken and is spurred on by overwhelming support from a large number of the electorate. Among his promises are to ban Syrians and most foreign Muslims from the United States, bomb the ISIS and ISIL as well as possibly kill the loved ones of jihadists, bring back torture through waterboarding and push for the heavy surveillance of mosques in the country.

The Republican frontrunner's words are met with cheers as he makes his rounds various state rallies. There are plenty of his supporters, particularly evangelicals who find their views and beliefs reflected by the outspoken Trump. The presidential candidate promised to protect Christianity, even expressing his belief that Christians and evangelicals should hold greater political power in the United States.

"Mr. Trump is not against Muslims... Not all Muslims are bad, but ISIS, they are Muslims, so I have to think we have to group them together now," Charlie Shane, a 21-year-old junior at Texas Tech University, said. "He's trying to keep Americans safe. Our lives are more important than theirs, and that's just the reality."

Jan Osban from Oklahoma City pointed out, "They use a religion to justify killing people... They're so insidious that they can be right here and you don't know it until too late."

The wave of support sweeping throughout the country for Trump and his distrust for Muslims are embraced by some. However, it is also feared by others who are urged to combat his rhetoric by reaching out to the American Muslim community.

In the Bay Area, around two dozen civic and religious leaders gathered in an interfaith event called Hands Around the Mosque to offer understanding and support for each other, according to a report from Mercury News.

"We can smell fascism when it's arising, and it's beginning to arise in the country," Ribbi Michael Lerner, editor of the Jewish Tikkun magazine, said. "It scares us."

The rising hostility from Trump and his supporters is inspiring Muslim voters to cast their ballots in the upcoming election to combat the threat of Islamophobic leaders, a separate report from Washington Post revealed. Hate attacks against American Muslims increase during election periods.

"This rise of Islamophobia?" Remaz Abdelgader, a 22-year-old George Mason University student and Bernie Sanders campaign volunteer, stated. "It has inspired our activism."


Should Muslims be voting for Donald Trump?