NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam said Wednesday that Donald Trump would need to make major policy changes before he could consider supporting the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination.
Haslam endorsed Marco Rubio before the state’s Super Tuesday primary, but the Florida senator came in third behind Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
“I’d love to see a blatant disavowal of white supremacy groups. I’d like to see him address issues like respect for life,” Haslam told The Associated Press at the state Capitol. “And is there going to be a religious test to get in to this country?”
According to exit polls Tuesday, about seven in 10 Republicans said they support temporarily banning Muslims who are not citizens from entering the United States. But Haslam said he disagrees with that approach.
“Protection of religious freedom has been one of the foundations of this country,” Haslam said. “Once you say we’re going to start excluding that group, how long is it until your group gets excluded?”