As a presidential candidate, he notoriously called for a "complete and total shutdown" on Muslims coming to America until the U.S. government could "figure out what the hell is going on." He supported the idea of creating a Muslim registry and allowing law enforcement to spy on mosques and Muslim communities. He said "Islam hates us" and that the religion, as a whole, held "tremendous hatred" toward America. He also peddled a bogus story celebrating the 9/11 attacks.