Donald Trump Challenged About “Badass” Afghan Women

The Republican presidential candidate was asked about two women highlighted in a BuzzFeed News article who would likely fall under his proposed ban on Muslims.

This weekend, BuzzFeed News profiled 17 badass women most people probably haven't heard about in 2015. On Sunday, Donald Trump was asked by CNN's Jake Tapper about two of them.

.@realDonaldTrump defends his proposed Muslim ban on @CNNSotu: There's a real problem https://t.co/PO3dASmpaw https://t.co/0yKzoCamQe

The first is Niloofar Rahmani, who became Afghanistan's first female pilot to serve in the air force since the fall of the Taliban.

There's also Kubra Khademi, who walked through the streets of Kabul wearing metal armor to protest against the harassment and assault women endure on a daily basis.

Tapper confronted Trump, who has said the U.S. "is at war with radical Islam," about the women, given the presidential hopeful's polemic proposed ban on Muslims.

"These are two women who do more to combat Islamic extremism than I do, than you do, and yet they would be banned," Tapper told Trump.

"How do you know that? How do you know that? Who told you that?" Trump asked. "You're just telling me one's a pilot, one's a – who told you they do more than you do?"

Tapper pointed out that one of the women is fighting insurgents, and that based on their respective missions, Trump would likely ban them from the country.

In the wake of attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, Trump has repeatedly attacked Muslims, called for the surveillance and closure of mosques, and expressed support when asked about the prospect of a Muslim registry.

"Look, look. I don't know anything about the women you just mentioned, OK? There are a lot of good people," Trump said.

Tapper pointed out to Trump that the women are "allies." Trump then brought up San Bernardino shooters, Tashfeen Malik and her husband Syed Rizwan Farook, a pair whose path to radicalization and marriage has left investigators and the media with more questions than answers.

"When the woman came in — just so you understand — when the woman came in as the fiancé everyone said, 'Oh isn't that lovely.' She came and she was radicalized. Whether she radicalized or they were both – I think they were both probably both – but all they had was probably bad intentions," Trump said.

"I'm only saying this – there's a group of people, there's a problem. And everybody knows it's a problem, and nobody wants to talk about it. And a lot of people agree with what I'm saying."

"And if you read a lot of the papers, especially the international papers, where they do have massive problems with this – I'm getting a lot of support," Trump added. "Now, it's temporary, but we have to get our arms around the situation."

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