Muslims feel unwelcome in US because of Donald Trump: Author

US author and political analyst Steven Pearce asserts that Donald Trump is behind the recent rise of Islamophobia sweeping the United States and says it is having a detrimental impact on American Muslims.

Pearce suggests the American public is “skeptical about Muslims” and that politicians are capitalizing on this fear of Muslims to promote their policies.

He specifically blames Trump, the Republican nominee for president, for whipping up the vicious Islamophobic political atmosphere in the country.

“Donald Trump’s career is built upon attacking immigrants,” Pearce said in an interview with Press TV on Monday. Providing some overview to Trump’s default victims, he added that “his two favorite targets are Mexicans and Muslims.”

Citing recent incidents of Muslims being shot in short succession in different states, Pearce insisted that Trump’s “hate-filled rhetoric” was responsible for the rise of violent Islamophobia in America.

Last month, two separate shootings of Muslims occurred in the same week. A Muslim doctor headed for morning prayers at a Houston mosque was shot in an attack by three men. Meanwhile, two young Muslim men were also shot in Minneapolis.

Pearce admitted he doesn’t feel safe anymore as a Muslim living in the United States and is trying to find a job abroad, as Trump wants “Muslims to be kicked out of the country.”

Trump has previously proposed that all 3.3 million American Muslims should be registered in a national database for security reasons and said that the US would have "absolutely no choice" but to close down mosques.

Trump has 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," the outspoken billionaire said.

He has called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims” entering the US.

Americans will elect the 45th president of the US on November 8, 2016. The winner will be sworn into office on January 20, 2017.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk