Donald Trump calls for racial profiling of American Muslims

Presumptive US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has called for racial profiling of Muslims inside the United States to combat terrorism.

"I think profiling is something we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump said on CBS News on Sunday.

The outspoken billionaire said he doesn't like the concept of racial profiling, but it may be necessary.

"Other countries do it. You look at Israel and you look at others, and they do it and they do it successfully," he said.

"I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to start using common sense and we have to use, you know, we have to use our heads. ... We really have to look at profiling. We have to look at is seriously,” he stated.

Trump said France also places mosques under surveillance.

"They're doing it in France. In fact, in some instances, they're closing down mosques. People don't want to talk about it. People aren't talking about it. But look at what they're doing in France. They're actually closing down mosques," he asserted.

Civil rights activists, Muslims, African-Americans, Latinos and others condemned Trump’s statement, saying that profiling is unconstitutional.

Muslim women watch as US President Barack Obama speaks at the Islamic Society of Baltimore, in Windsor Mill, Maryland on February 3, 2016. (AFP photo)

Muslim children hold US flags as President Barack Obama speaks in an overflow room during a visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore, in Windsor Mill, Maryland on February 3, 2016. (AFP photo)

The New York business tycoon previously called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the United States.

He has also called for a database to track Muslims across the United States, and he has also said that the US would have "absolutely no choice" but to close down mosques.

The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned the Orlando nightclub shooting that left dozens of people dead last week, and called for unity among all Americans and warned politicians against exploiting the tragedy to score points.

Omar Mateen, armed with assault weapons, stormed the Pulse Club on June 12, killing 49 people and injured 53 others at the gay club, marking the worst ever mass shooting in US history.

The 29-year-old suspect was an American-born US citizen born to parents of Afghan background. He was allegedly a Daesh sympathizer.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump says the United States should consider more racial profiling in law enforcement, after urging harsher policies following last week's mass shooting in Orlando.

"I think profiling is something that we're going to have to start thinking about as a country," Trump said when asked on CBS whether he supported more profiling of Muslims in America.

"You look at Israel and you look at others, and they do it and they do it successfully. And you know, I hate the concept of profiling, but we have to start using common sense," he added.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, has drawn criticism from many in his party for his comments on American Muslims after the Orlando attack, in which a US born Muslim man killed 49 people at a gay nightclub.

"If you go to France right now, they're doing it in France. In fact, in some instances they're closing down mosques."Trump also reiterated his support for more scrutiny of mosques, saying that could resemble a controversial New York City surveillance programme that has been shut down.

Police in France closed some mosques shortly after gunmen aligned with Isis (Islamic State) militants killed 130 people in Paris in a series of attacks last November 13.

The Orlando gunman, Omar Mateen, expressed support for Islamic State, but officials believe he was "self-radicalised".

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump signs autographs for supporters after speaking at a rally. Photo / AP

Trump has drawn criticism from many in his Republican Party for calling for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. He also has called for a suspension of immigration from countries with "a proven history of terrorism".

Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, has said the comments show Trump is unfit to be president.

House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan endorsed Trump but has said a Muslim ban is not in US interests. In excerpts of an NBC interview released on Saturday, Ryan said Republicans weighing whether to vote for Trump should follow their "conscience".

Trump brushed off the criticism and said he would put up his own money for his campaign if needed. "It would be nice if the Republicans stuck together," Trump said in an ABC interview. "I can win, one way or another."