Responding for the first time to Ben Carson's comment that he would not advocate for a Muslim president in an interview on NBC's "The Tonight Show," Republican presidential contender Carly Fiorina said Carson's position is "wrong."
“I think that’s wrong,” Fiorina told Jimmy Fallon in an interview on Monday. “You know, it says in our Constitution that religion cannot be a test for office. It is also true that this country was founded on the principle that we judge each individual and that anyone, of any faith, is welcome here."
Fiorina went on to say that people of faith, regardless of their particular religion, "make better leaders" and spoke of how her own Christian faith sustained her during some of the most challenging moments of her life.
Carson Campaign Stands Its Ground Over Muslim Comments Muslim Group Slams Ben Carson as 'Unfit to Lead'"I battled cancer, I’ve lost a child. I’ve been tested," she continued. "But whether it’s a person of Christian faith or Jewish faith or Muslim faith, or other faiths, I think faith gives us humility and empathy and optimism and i think those are important things.”
Carson set off a firestorm Sunday over whether Muslims should be considered for the nation's highest office in an interview with NBC's Chuck Todd over the weekend.
"I would not advocate that we put a Muslim in charge of this nation. I absolutely would not agree with that," Carson said on "Meet the Press."
Fiorina's rejection of Carson's remarks echoes that of other Republican presidential candidates who have also condemned Carson's remarks in pointing out that the Constitution does not include a religious test for selecting the president.
But in the face of criticism from his opponents, Carson doubled down on his opposition to the concept of a Muslim presidential candidate, taking to Facebook on Monday to answer a couple questions as part of his "Ask Ben" series that the campaign does a few times a week.
"Know this, I meant exactly what I said," Carson wrote in the Facebook post. "I could never support a candidate for President of the United States that was Muslim and had not renounced the central tenant of Islam: Sharia Law."
Carson reiterated that he could not support a Muslim candidate for president "until these tenants are fully renounced."
"I know that there are many peaceful Muslims who do not adhere to these beliefs," Carson wrote. "But until these tenets are fully renounced. ... I cannot advocate any Muslim candidate for president."