Donald Trump on proposal to ban Muslims entering US: "It's short term...we have to be tough" https://t.co/FLKPDYIVf5 https://t.co/1Gqofqv6T6

— World News Tonight (@WNTonight) December 9, 2015

Donald Trump says he has no regrets about his call to bar Muslims from entering the United States.

“Not at all,” Trump said in an interview on Tuesday with Barbara Walters of ABC News.

“We have to do the right thing,” added Trump, who said he had “great respect and love” as well as “tremendous relationships” with Muslims who he said agree with his remarks.

Trump also said barring Muslims from entering the country would be a “short-term” measure until elected leaders can “figure out what is going on.”

Pressed on the timeline, Trump said, “It could be very quickly if our country can get its act together.”

“We don’t know what’s happening. We have a president that doesn’t have a clue. We need toughness and smartness and we have to do it quickly,” he said.

Asked if he’s a bigot, Trump responded that he’s “probably the least of anybody you’ve ever met.”

“I’m a person that has common sense. I’m a smart person. I know how to run things. I know how to make America great again,” he said.

Trump’s call for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S. ignited a firestorm of criticism from Republicans.

It follows other moves, such as calling for heightened surveillance of American Muslims and mosques, that many Republicans worry could hurt their party.

The comments have yet to hurt Trump.

A new poll released on Tuesday found him expanding his lead in New Hampshire.

While a Monmouth University poll found Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Iowa) surpassing him in Iowa, a separate CNN poll found Trump with the lead.