Ben Carson: I'd accept a Muslim president who rejected Islam Ben Carson: Muslim president a 'theoretical' idea

Ben Carson is standing by his comments that a Muslim should not lead the United States, elaborating on exactly what he meant during an interview over the weekend with NBC's "Meet the Press." But he also said he has more important things to talk about, and the country has better things to do.

“When the situation arises and we have somebody in that situation, let’s talk about it then, OK?" Carson told reporters at a news conference in the Cincinnati suburb of Sharonville, Ohio, on Tuesday.


"Why get off into theoretical situations? No point in doing that," the retired neurosurgeon said, asking why the media isn't more interested in "the important issues that are going on," like the American education system or refugees from Syria.

On Sean Hannity's Fox News program Monday night, Carson made clear that he was referring to more than just Muslims.

"Absolutely, I stand by the comments. What we have to do, we have to recognize that this is America, and we have a Constitution, and we do not put people at the leadership of our country whose faith might interfere with them carrying out the duties of the Constitution," he explained. "So if, for instance, you believe in a theocracy — I don't care if you're a Christian and you're running for president and you want to make this into a theocracy — I'm not going to support you. I'm not going to advocate you being the president."

Carson went on to say that he would support someone with a Muslim background who is "willing to reject the tenets [of Islam] and accept the way of life that we have and clearly will swear to place the Constitution above their religion."

"Then, of course, they will be considered infidels and heretics, but at least I would be then quite willing to support them," Carson said.

Hannity then said he heard Carson tempering his earlier remarks and asked the candidate whether, if there were a candidate who was a moderate Muslim who "denounced Sharia law, that denounced radical Islamists, that denounced quotes in the Quran about killing the infidels or not taking Christians and Jews for your friends, that denounced the controversial life of Muhammad, you would be open to that Muslim running for president?"

"Of course," Carson replied.

"OK, so basically the controversy's over in that sense. Did you mean to say radical Islamist or one that supports a form of government as it's practiced in Muslim countries. Is that what you meant to say?" Hannity pressed.

That was "implied" in his remark to "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd, Carson said.

"I prefaced that by saying I don't care what religion or faith someone belongs to if they're willing to subjugate that to the American way and to our Constitution, then I have no problem with that. That's what I said before that," he explained.

In Ohio, Carson reiterated that he would support anyone regardless of religious affiliation or heritage as long as "they embrace American values and they place the Constitution at the top level."

“I said I would support anyone. Again, it seems to be actually hard for people to hear English and understand it," he remarked, slamming a culture of political correctness where questions have to be answered "in a certain way."

As far as whether he would expect any Muslims to vote for him, Carson said that he thinks "a lot of them would."

"I heard from a lot of Muslim-Americans just in the last 24 hours that I’ve worked with, that I’ve trained, that I’ve operated on" who, Carson remarked, have said they understand his viewpoint.