One chart that shows how many Muslims will really vote for Donald Trump
Despite his Islamophobic views, the top Republican that Muslims are voting for is Mr Trump
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Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump’s stance on Muslims has often been less than friendly. His plans as President include banning them from the US, looking Syrian children “in the face and telling them to go home”, and insisting that Muslims jeered and applauded as they watched the Twin Towers falling down.
Despite his arguably Islamophobic views, Mr Trump is still playing his part to drive Muslims to the polls - and to vote for him.
According to new figures from Statista, obtained by The Independent, 7 per cent of the Muslim Republican vote is swinging its way to the real estate tycoon.
The survey asked almost 2,000 Muslim registered voters across six states - California, New York, Illinois, Florida, Texas, and Virginia, where the Muslim population is highest - if they would vote and for which candidate.
A total of 15 per cent said they would vote Republican, with Mr Trump coming out on top. He is followed by Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush at 2 per cent each.
Ibrahim Hooper, National Communications Director at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), told The Independent there might be a number of factors why Muslims would vote for Mr Trump, including name recognition as he receives a lot of coverage in the media.
“There are Muslim Republicans and maybe there are those who would support him regardless of his anti-Muslim views,” said Mr Hooper.
“As I’ve said before, if you ask people, is the moon is made of green cheese, 7 per cent will say yes,” he added.
Meanwhile, the majority of Muslims would vote Democrat at 67 per cent, with Hillary Clinton winning over half - 52 per cent - of the support and Bernie Sanders following with 22 per cent.
Opposition to Mr Trump could also be driving Muslims to the polls. CAIR found that 73 per cent of registered Muslim voters plan to vote in the upcoming primary elections, and growing Islamophobia in America ranked as these voters’ primary concern in the election - followed by the economy and health care.
Islamophobia was the third highest concern for Muslims in a 2014 survey.
Mr Trump has called for a database to track the movements of Muslims living in the US, but insisted that he has at least 20 “Muslim friends” and they have said “thank you” for his proposed policies.
He and his son have failed to name these friends to the press, mentioning instead the deals they have done in the Middle East.
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