A prominent surrogate for Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Trump dismisses climate change role in fires, says Newsom needs to manage forest better Jimmy Kimmel hits Trump for rallies while hosting Emmy Awards MORE on Friday stood behind his assertion that President Obama is a Muslim.

Carl Paladino, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York, was asked on "Imus in the Morning" about remarks he made on Aug. 5 to the Buffalo Observer. He told the paper there was “no doubt” Obama was a Muslim.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Now I assume you don’t believe that. It’s not true …” said Connell McShane, a Fox Business host who was filling in for Don Imus.

“Wait, how do you know that’s not true?” said Paladino, a Buffalo developer who’s helping to lead Trump’s campaign in New York state.

“That’s not fair, Connell," he continued. "You’ve formed a conclusion about a man because he’s told you that, he’s said, ‘No, I’m not a Muslim.’ Oh, that’s great.”

“We’re not going to have this ridiculous talk,” McShane shot back. “So there’s no doubt he is? How would you know that that is true?”

Paladino pivoted to the Justice Department's refusal to investigate the Clinton Foundation.

“This is the same guy who yesterday deprived the American people of an investigation into Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonBiden leads Trump by 36 points nationally among Latinos: poll Democratic super PAC to hit Trump in battleground states over coronavirus deaths Battle lines drawn on precedent in Supreme Court fight MORE’s foundation,” Paladino said of Obama.

“OK, that’s fine, but that’s different from saying there’s no doubt he’s a Muslim,” McShane retorted.

“If it acts like a duck, if it walks like a duck, and if it talks like a duck, it’s a duck!” Paladino replied.

“That’s just nonsense,” McShane said. “It’s just so silly, Carl. You lose everybody on this kind of stuff.”

“I don’t lose anybody!” Paladino said. “I lose the press, that’s all I lose.”

Trump is campaigning near Buffalo on Friday, holding a rally in Erie, Pa.