New poll shows 57% against Donald Trump's Muslim ban, 25% support it

People holding a placard depicting US presidential hopeful Donald Trump at a demonstration in New York on Dec 10. PHOTO: AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A new national poll has found that 57 per cent of adults in the United States are against Republican Donald Trump's controversial plan to ban Muslims from entering the country, while 25 per cent support it.

Eighteen per cent did not know or had no opinion, according to the survey by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal on Thursday (Dec 10).

It was the first major national poll since the furor erupted over Mr Trump's call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the US. The frontrunner for the Republican nomination for the White House made the comment after it was found that the Muslim couple in the mass shooting in California have been radicalised.

The proposal was lambasted at home and abroad.

Among Republicans, the views are mixed: 42 per cent of Republican respondents back Mr Trump's Muslim ban, while 36 per cent oppose it.

Three-quarters of Democrats stand opposed.

The poll also found that 41 per cent of Americans believe Mr Trump's bombastic campaign statements in general are frequently insulting.

Twenty-two per cent say he is telling it like it is and has the correct approach.

The survey also showed that Americans have a favourable opinion of Muslims - 59 per cent positive compared to 29 per cent negative - upholding a relatively stable position on the question since 2002.

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