Following harsh criticism over his proposal to halt Muslim immigration to the US, Republican front-runner Donald Trump said that he is doing 'good' for the Muslims.

He said that he has a lot of Muslim friends and that they are 'phenomenal people' and quite approving of what he was doing.

"Many Muslim friends of mine are in agreement with me. They say, 'Donald, you brought something up to the fore that is so brilliant and so fantastic," Trump said in an interview to CNN.

He also claimed that he loves the Middle East and the people there.

Trump also said his plan had been misrepresented and explained that the immigration ban may not last long.