Donald Trump has once again called for a total ban on Muslims entering the United States, reviving one of the most controversial proposals from his 2016 presidential campaign and reigniting a national debate over immigration, religion, and constitutional limits.

Speaking at a campaign-style event, Trump said stronger measures were needed to protect national security, arguing that the United States must adopt tougher screening policies to prevent extremist threats. His remarks quickly drew both applause from supporters and sharp criticism from civil rights advocates.

The proposal echoes a pledge he first made in December 2015, when he called for “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States” following terrorist attacks overseas. That original statement became a defining flashpoint of his campaign and shaped years of legal and political battles.

After taking office in 2017, Trump signed an executive order restricting travel from several predominantly Muslim-majority countries. The policy, often referred to by critics as the “Muslim ban,” went through multiple revisions before the Supreme Court ultimately upheld a version of it in 2018. Details of that ruling are outlined in coverage from the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Trump v. Hawaii, which found the administration had broad authority over immigration policy.